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	<title>ecoist</title>
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	<link>http://ecoist.ca</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:36:13 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>The Human Experience</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-human-experience/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/the-human-experience/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:12:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humanity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[respect]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=679</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From Grassroots Films of Brooklyn, New York comes THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE – the story of a band of brothers who<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-human-experience/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>From Grassroots Films of Brooklyn, New York comes THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE – the story of a band of brothers who travel the world in search of the answers to the questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? Their quest leads them to sleep on the streets with the homeless of New York City, comfort the orphaned children of Peru, and seek out the abandoned lepers in the jungles of Ghana, Africa. </p>
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<p>What they discover changes them forever. They are captivated by the joy and love that they encounter; they are awakened to the beauty of the human person and the resilience of the human spirit. Along with one on one interviews with experts and amateurs from all walks of life, THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE weaves both commentary and drama into a deep reflection on what it means to be human.</p>
<p>Read more on this at <a href="http://www.grassrootsfilms.com/" title="The Human Experience">grassrootsfilms.com</a>.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Birth of an Ocean</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-birth-of-an-ocean/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/the-birth-of-an-ocean/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:36:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environmental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ocean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=674</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Lana Gunnlaugson, Program Coordinator Marine &#38; Freshwater
Ever wondered what lives on the ocean floor, and how it came to<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-birth-of-an-ocean/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>By Lana Gunnlaugson, Program Coordinator Marine &amp; Freshwater</em></p>
<p>Ever wondered what lives on the ocean floor, and how it came to be there?</p>
<p>Tonight, CBC will present the first of four special episodes offering a view of the sea most of us have never seen. The <a href="http://oneocean.cbc.ca/">One Ocean series</a> attempts to reconnect us to our oceans through an underwater journey that only a few have ever witnessed.</p>
<p>The series begins 4 billion years ago with the birth of the ocean, which helped transform the Earth&#8217;s surface into the hospitable home we oxygen-loving animals live on today. Oceans gave us life, and we still depend on them to <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/reports/DSF_PrettyView_Web.pdf">sustain us</a>. From acting as the planet&#8217;s thermostat to absorbing half its carbon dioxide, the oceans provide us with many of the ecosystem services that we need to survive. It goes beyond this, too. Many who have touched the ocean knows that its beauty and power has touched them too.</p>
<p>I watched a sneak preview of the One Ocean series last night and definitely recommend tuning in for this series if you have ever been fascinated by the ocean and how it works.</p>
<p><strong>Here&#8217;s the full schedule</strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Birth of an Ocean</strong>: MARCH 4 AT 8 P.M.<br />
The Birth of an Ocean explores the ocean*s tumultuous history and how the ocean transformed the earth into the livable, blue planet it is today.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Footprints in the Sand</strong>: MARCH 11 AT 8 P.M.<br />
Traditional fisheries, over-development and the places of recovery that can give us hope for a healthy future ocean all intersect in Footprints in the Sand.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mysteries of the Deep</strong>: MARCH 18 AT 8 P.M.<br />
Starting in the deepest part of the ocean, Mysteries of the Deep takes us to a secret and magical world of bizarre creatures and new discoveries deep beneath the surface.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Changing Sea</strong>: MARCH 25 AT 8 P.M.<br />
The Changing Sea explores some of the most stunning underwater locations in the world as it sets sail on a scientific race &#8211; a race to predict the fate of the global ocean.</li>
</ul>
<p>One Ocean is produced by CBC&#8217;s The Nature of Things and Merit Motion Pictures, in association with National Geographic Channel.</p>
<p>Source obtained: <a href="http://beta.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/healthy-oceans-blog/the-birth-of-an-ocean/" title="The Birth of an Ocean">www.davidsuzuki.org</a></p>
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		<title>Are We Doomed? Yert Feature Film</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/are-we-doomed-yert-feature-film/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/are-we-doomed-yert-feature-film/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:45:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environmental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=645</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Get ready for YERT: The Film. We&#8217;re knee deep in the creation of a feature film based on our eco-adventures<a href="http://ecoist.ca/are-we-doomed-yert-feature-film/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Get ready for YERT: The Film. We&#8217;re knee deep in the creation of a feature film based on our eco-adventures in every state of the USA, and this little trailer is the first real glimpse into what it&#8217;ll be like. We&#8217;re shooting for Sundance, so spread the word to all of your friends and family &#8211; we want this trailer to travel around the world.</p>
<p>More from Yert: <a href="http://www.yert.com/film.php">www.yert.com</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Climate Movement 2009</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-climate-movement-2009/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/the-climate-movement-2009/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:55:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environmental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[movement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=619</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[2009 was an important year for the global climate change movement. From India to USA, from Ethiopia to China, people<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-climate-movement-2009/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2009 was an important year for the global climate change movement. From India to USA, from Ethiopia to China, people all over the globe took action, demanding fair and bold action to stop dangerous climate change. As world leaders met in Copenhagen for the UN climate talks in December, millions marched in the streets around the world.</p>
<p>In 2010, we will build the movement EVEN BIGGER. Visit http://350.org to get inspired and take action.</p>
<p>Thanks to all those who took action on climate around the world in 2009 &#8211; this video is just the tip of the iceberg. </p>
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<p>Source obtained from: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DavidSuzuki?ref=nf">David Suzuki Foundation</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Happy Holidays</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/happy-holidays/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/happy-holidays/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:19:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Because]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happy Holidays]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday and may the New Year bring love and peace.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://ecoist.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/eco_christmas.gif" alt="" title="Happy Holidays" width="620" height="724" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-614" /></p>
<p>I want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday and may the New Year bring love and peace.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Urban Drifter &#8230; video update</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/urban-drifter-video-update/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/urban-drifter-video-update/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:23:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Because]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban simple]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=611</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of us who couldn&#8217;t make Patagonia Cardiff&#8217;s recent screening of The Drifter with professional surfer Rob Machado, here&#8217;s<a href="http://ecoist.ca/urban-drifter-video-update/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For those of us who couldn&#8217;t make <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=5172&amp;src=vuca_0005&amp;src=vuca_0005" target="_blank">Patagonia Cardiff&#8217;s</a> recent screening of <em>The Drifter</em> with professional surfer Rob Machado, here&#8217;s a sweet little recap from filmmaker Ian O&#8217;Roarty. Rob and <a href="http://www.jonswiftmusic.com/" target="_blank">Jon Swift</a> played live music for the crowd as they filed into the venue and after the movie during the bonus surfing footage. The event was free but over $600 was donated by the crowd to benefit the <a href="http://www.robmachadofoundation.org/" target="_blank">Rob Machado Foundation</a>. Special thanks to <a href="http://www.wegenersurfboards.com/" target="_blank">Wegener Surfboards</a> and <a href="http://www.nixonnow.com/" target="_blank">Nixon Watches</a> for their contributions.</p>
<p>You can follow Patagonia Cardiff on <a href="http://twitter.com/PatagoniaCardif" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PATAGONIA#/pages/Encinitas-CA/Patagonia-Cardiff/82602439558" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for news on future events.For more music from Jon Swift, check out Sweetgrass Productions&#8217; latest ski/snowboard film <em><a href="http://www.sweetgrass-productions.com/" target="_blank">Signatures</a></em>.</p>
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		<title>The Drifter &#8211; Rob Machado</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-drifter-rob-machado/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/the-drifter-rob-machado/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:24:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Surfing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=607</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Machado and friends are coming to a theater near you
Join Rob and friends for a Drifter premiere at a theater<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-drifter-rob-machado/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Machado and friends are coming to a theater near you<br />
Join Rob and friends for a Drifter premiere at a theater near you. Every show includes an acoustic set with Machado and Jon Swift, a full-length showing of the film and a Q and A with Rob and Taylor Steele.</p>
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		<title>The Story of Stuff</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-story-of-stuff/</link>
		<comments>http://ecoist.ca/the-story-of-stuff/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:51:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environmental]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=601</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
What is the Story of Stuff?
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-story-of-stuff/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://ecoist.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/storyofstuff.png" alt="The Story of Stuff" title="The Story of Stuff" width="500" height="230" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-602" /></p>
<h4>What is the Story of Stuff?</h4>
<p>From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.</p>
<p>The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.</p>
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<p>Source obtained from: <a href="http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/the-story-of-stuff/" title="The Story of stuff">www.thetinyhouseblog.com</a>, also check out their stuff at <a href="http://storyofstuff.com/" title="The Story of Stuff">www.storyofstuff.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Botany of Desire</title>
		<link>http://ecoist.ca/the-botany-of-desire/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:24:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environmental]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=586</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Humans frequently assume that we are the architects of biological change, rather than mere participants. Genetic mapping and engineering<a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-botany-of-desire/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://ecoist.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/the-botany-of-desire-375x500.jpg" alt="the botany of desire" title="the botany of desire" width="375" height="500" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-587" /> Humans frequently assume that we are the architects of biological change, rather than mere participants. Genetic mapping and engineering do paint a compelling picture of us in the genetic driver’s seat. But what if we’re manipulated by the very agents we believe we’re manipulating? What if, for example, in our attempts to create a more cold-tolerant tomato, we’re unconsciously fulfilling the tomato’s desire to expand the environment in which it thrives? It’s discomforting – some would say, ridiculous &#8211; to think of ourselves as haplessly duped marionettes in an elaborate drama manipulated by the omniscient tomato – especially when things like consciousness and desire are not frequently listed among the tomato’s better-known traits.</p>
<p>And yet it cannot be denied that the tomato has achieved a depth of genetic diversity and breadth of distribution that it may never had known, had it not appealed to a specific set of human desires. In making itself so delicious (entire cuisines are built upon it), nutritious (rich in lycopene and Vitamins A &#038; C), and easy to preserve (thanks to high acid content) it earned a free boat ride from the New World back to the European mainland, where it proceeded to re-write culinary history. Thus did a lowly, spindly member of the sometimes-poisonous nightshade family manage to effectively put human legs and boats and farmers to work for it, moving it from its original western Andean home to farms and backyard gardens around the world.</p>
<p>We have grown accustomed to the idea of measuring the environmental impacts of our consciously chosen actions. We’ve come to see that many of our choices have unintended environmental consequences, many of them harmful. But what about those unconscious choices that have sprung from pure desire, whether it be a desire for control, for taste, for intoxication, or even the simple desire . . .</p>
<p>. . . for beauty? And what about the unintended positive effects of those actions? Is ours the only set of desires acting to orchestrate the rhythms of our world?</p>
<p><a href="http://ecoist.ca/the-botany-of-desire/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>There is a world of life that indeed responds to our desires; and in doing so, fulfills desires of its own. Such is the premise and on which Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire: A Plant&#8217;s-Eye View of the World is built. One of his earlier books, The Botany of Desire uses four separate plants to make the case that humans have been exploited by these species to advance a decidedly non-anthropocentric genetic agenda. The four plants examined are tulips, potatoes, apples, and marijuana &#8211; crops that have, genetically speaking, become wildly successful based on their appeal to human desires for beauty, control, sweetness, and intoxication, respectively.</p>
<p>Pollan’s is an investigation whose premise is now (pardon the pun) ripe for exploration. And it’s the focus of a striking new PBS production that is set to air Wednesday, October 28th. In pursuing his inquiry from such an angle, Pollan highlights the unexpectedly intricate relationships humans have established with the natural world at a time when we can better appreciate the beauty of how little control we actually have over nature.</p>
<p>Source obtained from: <a href="http://www.thecleanestline.com/2009/10/botany-of-desire-looks-at-human-nature-relationship.html" title="Michael Pollan ~ The Botany of Desire">www.thecleanestline.com</a>.</p>
<p>Also check out Michael Pollan&#8217;s site: <a href="http://www.michaelpollan.com/write.php" title="Michael Pollan ~ The Botany of Desire">www.michaelpollan.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>Avatar</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:49:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ecoist</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Just Because]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ecoist.ca/?p=580</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Avatar deals with some very Earth-like environmental conflicts — particularly the battle over rare resources and the displacement of indigenous<a href="http://ecoist.ca/avatar/"> ... more &#8250;</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Avatar deals with some very Earth-like environmental conflicts — particularly the battle over rare resources and the displacement of indigenous settlements to get at them. In an interview, Cameron said that one of the major themes he wanted to base his story on was how “advanced civilizations supplant indigenous cultures, in either actively genocidal or more unpremeditated ways.</p>
<p><a href="http://ecoist.ca/avatar/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
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