By Allyson and Alex Grey Joseph Parker began having visions during a hypnosis session to cure his painful migraine headaches. He describes his experience of that session: My body was heavy, then lighter. I flew out of my body. I...

Nan, devoted and capable "karma yogi" gets her face painted before departing CoSM to return to college. We send Nan off with our love, our great faith in her ability to have the best year EVER in school and at...

The Wisdom Trail begins. A frog in the reflecting pond. Extravagant mushrooms grow on a tree. A bunny. Tree altar. A butterfly.

Papillon DeBoer both volunteered and was on staff at CoSM Art Sanctuary for ten months. His trusted leadership as volunteer coordinator brought CoSM to a new level of management. Generously serving "karma yogis" coming to CoSM out of their commitment...

On Saturday, August 8th, members of CoSM convened for an unforgettable and historic first Full Moon Gathering at CoSM Art Sanctuary. The creative spirit showed up in force in poetry, music, song, dance and wisdom. The Full Moon is celebrated...

There’s a cool event happening next month – the Brita Climate Ride. Created by two passionate, seasoned bicyclers and world travelers, Climate Ride raises money for climate, energy and bicycle-related projects and organizations. This mass bike ride from NYC to DC spans 5 days and strives to inspire and empower citizens to work toward a new energy future.



Along the way, riders will camp out at designated spots and listen to top experts in the field of climate change. Denmark’s Ambassador to the US, NEMO’s own ambassador Alison Gannett, Dr. James Hanson, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and Josh Dorfman, The Lazy Environmentalist, are among those speaking. When the group hits DC, riders are scheduled to meet with their senators and representatives for a one-on-one conversation about global warming concerns and solutions.





We at NEMO love the bicycle and love the idea of teaming up with such a passionate group. Plus, one of this year’s recipient organizations is Portsmouth, NH’s own Clean Air – Cool Planet. And not only will NEMO ambassador, Alison Gannett, be speaking during the ride, she’ll also be riding self-supported, carrying her Gogo.



BONUS: NEMO’s offering industry pro form (40% discount) to all registered riders, so think about it!



~Kate

If you’ve been living in a cave recently, you might have missed some of the best surf to hit the East Coast in a couple years. Despite unbelievable crowds (both watching and in the water), there was fun to be had by all. We were out last Thursday picking up trash at our monthly cleanup (thanks Marta!), and it was looking calm before the storm. Starting Friday and continuing to even this morning, there have been great conditions. Bill snapped this shot Saturday morning in the fog after a monster session.





Check out the 500+ Hurricane Bill surfing pictures that have been downloaded to Magic Seaweed in the past few days.



-Connie

This past July the Explorer Post traveled with eight students, ages 16-19, and three advisors, to a remote area of the Canadian Purcell Range. We camped on the edge of the Conrad Icefield and stayed there for one week. The team climbed seven mountains, including Mt. Conrad, 10,750’ (named for Conrad Kain), Mt. Mallow, Mt. Osprey and Snafflehound Spire. We brought our Moki™ and a couple of Morpho AR’s™, as you can see from the photos. The tents worked really well, thank you for the kind donation!





Explorer Post 58 is based in Portland, Oregon. The Post is the most active youth mountaineering organization in the country. We climb about 20 mountains each year and sponsor trips to Canada, Alaska and New Zealand. We also participate in approximately 20 other non-mountaineering trips each year.



~Pete Green, Post Advisor

Even though the last of this year's free national park weekends just passed, some of the best weeks (no crowds, no heat, no mosquitos) are still ahead of us.



Lately, I've been wading through some of the reader photos submitted to Boston Globe's national parks photo contest , and wondering how Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone is so photogenic in every photo. amateur or not. All photos for the contest must be submitted by September 11, 2009. The grand prize winner will receive a signed copy of the new Ken Burns film, National Parks: America's Best Idea.







If you've got more time on your hands, here's a longer cut of it.



-Connie

As requested, here's a sneak peek at Meta 1P, one of our new ultralight trekking pole tents for 2010. Minimum weight for this tent is around 1.8 lbs, and the 2 person version comes in at 2.9 lbs.





Interest for these kinds of tents has been growing strong -- especially as more people (myself included) realize how much trekking poles can save your knees and hips when hiking. The bonus is that since you're already carrying trekking poles, these tents pack amazingly small.



-Connie

Free chakra meditation poster

The mysteries of the Universe are discussed in this 2 video 8 hour lecture by Nassim Haramein. To any one that has ever questioned the nature of reality and our place in it then this is a must view for you.

Manifesting is the ability to bring into your life that which you desire. Whether it is a specific person, a certain amount of money, happiness, health and just about anything you can think of.

The Tiger Temple or Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Thailand and has been a sanctuary for many endangered animals including several tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by tourists

Try using positive daily affirmations to change your life for the better......

Flawed Climate and Energy Bill Moving Through Congress



On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the deeply flawed American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill. The bill is so corrupted by polluting special interests, including Shell Oil and Duke Energy, as well as corporate agribusiness and Wall Street, that we can't celebrate what could have been a major turning point for climate action.



Instead of bringing about the transition to clean energy President Obama spoke of during his campaign, this bill is actually counterproductive, gutting the EPA's authority to fight global warming.



The bill now heads to the Senate, where we have a real chance to improve it by persuading progressive senators to stand strong and demand a better bill -- a bill that does what scientists say we must and preserves existing EPA authority. If you have not yet made a financial contribution to this campaign and wish to, you can do so by clicking here today. Learn more about our work on the Waxman-Markey bill.

Video Blogging from Bonn



International climate change negotiations are underway in Bonn, Germany. These negotiations, formally known as an "intercessional," are running from June 1 to 12 and are intended to lay the groundwork for countries to form a binding agreement to tackle the climate crisis. The agreement is expected to be finalized during further negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, later this year.



Two Friends of the Earth U.S. staff (Kate Horner and Karen Orenstein) are in Bonn to participate in the negotiations, and they're producing this video blog to keep folks back home up to speed. Watch the videos...



Also in this Issue: House Democrat Goes Wrong Way on Biofuels, Ship Shape: Celebrate World Oceans Day!, Report to Expose Dangerous Nano-Silver in Consumer Products, Activist of the Year

The New Climate in Congress



This week, we released a joint statement with Greenpeace and Public Citizen to express our concern about disturbing changes to the new climate bill currently being discussed in Congress. While we don't have the bill in our hands yet, we have heard that there have been various compromises made that weaken the bill. One, the targets we must reach to avoid climate chaos have been weakened considerably and two, more and more handouts are going to Big Oil and Big Coal.



If it's as bad as we think, we'll need you to help us by telling your member of Congress you demand better from them -- that you want them to stand up to Big Oil and Big Coal and do what's needed to solve this crisis. Read more...



Also in This Issue: ShellGuilty Campaign, Ship Shape: Bring Ship Discharge Standards into the 21st Century, Keeping Our Food Free, Ready or Not?

Friends of the Earth Partners Win Prestigious International Prize



Four of the seven recipients of this year's Goldman environmental prize, the world's most prestigious award for grassroots environmental activism, are partnering with Friends of the Earth to fight for environmental justice and indigenous and tribal peoples' rights. Three of the recipients campaign to prevent Chinese companies from causing environmental damage as they attempt to access natural resources from around the world. They are Marc Ona from Gabon, who is working to limit the scope of the Belinga Iron Ore Mine Project, and Wanze Eduards and Hugo Jabini from Suriname, who are fighting illegal logging on tribal lands. Another 2009 Goldman prize went to Rizwana Hasan from Friends of the Earth's chapter in Bangladesh. Congratulations to all the winners.



Also in This Issue: Monsanto CEO Voted Country's Biggest 'Biofool', Activists Fight New Coal Plant in North Carolina, What We're Up Against: Videos of Congressional Nutcases, Forty years of Friends of the Earth

George Will firestorm continues



In late February, after George Will published an erroneous and misleading Washington Post column attempting to sow confusion about global warming science, more than 5,000 Friends of the Earth activists contacted the Post's ombudsman and demanded a correction. The paper refused to issue one, but now numerous Washington Post employees -- including some of its news reporters -- are publicly criticizing Will.



In just the last week, reporters Mary Beth Sheridan and Juliet Eilperin called Will out in a news column reporting on recent Arctic ice melts, Post "Weather Gang" writer Andrew Freedman called Will's assertions " misleading," Post columnist Eugene Robinson criticized Will on national television, and Post cartoonist Tom Toles mocked Will in a sketch. We can only hope Will pays attention to his colleagues and stops lying about the climate crisis.



Also in This Issue: Plug-in electric vehicles receive substantial funding, You told us what you think!, Make it monthly, Forty years of Friends of the Earth

Legendary Rapa Nui Cultural Dance Group to participate in Honu Eclipse

Opening in July 2010 for the Total Solar Eclipse

The first 40 artists behind the Honu innitiative!

It is a great honour to have the following gems supporting to the Honu Eclipse... (this list will be constantly updated)

Raja Ram (UK - TIP World)

Shpongle DJ Set (UK - Twisted)

Eat Static (UK - TIP/Interchill)

Etnica (Italy - Etnicanet)

Medicine Drum (USA - independent)

Desert Dwellers (USA - White Swan)

Shane Gobi (South Africa - Alchemy)

Regan (South Africa - Nano)

Edoardo (Italy - Neurobiotic)

Earthling (Ibiza - Neurobiotic)

Simon Ghahary (UK - Blue Room)

Chris Deckker (Australia - Earthdance)

Scotty (Germany - Vuuv)

Joti Sidhu (UK - Neurobiotic)

Zen Mechanics (NL - Neurobiotic)

Pan Papason (Ibiza - On the Move Music)

Liquid Ross (UK - Liquid)

Penta (Rusia - Auraquake)

Headroom (South Africa - Nano)

Pleiadians (Italy - Etnicanet)

Lucas (UK - TIP World)

Pin (Brazil - Planet Ben)

Rinkadink (South Africa - Alchemy)

Michelle Adamson (UK - On the Move Music)

Dickster (UK - Nano)

Broken Toy (South Africa - Alchemy)

Swarup (Brazil - Vagalume)

Avalon (UK - Nano)

Lui Raptor (Australiens.net)

Hamish (UK - Alchemy)

Ital (Chile - Antu)

Young Kim (S. Korea - Etnicanet)

Gino (Italy - Sonica Re-Loaded)

Patchbay (Brazil - Bondless Music)

Rex (South Africa - Nano)

Andean Trip (Chile - Dreamvibe)

Baba D (Belgium - Sitaram Vision)

Nesono (South Africa - independent)

Subhira (Chile - Transubhiriano)

Vinnix (Brazil - Fora do Tempo)

Jowe (Argentina - La Nave)

Humento (Chile - Trancetour)

Dew (Chile - Dreamvibe)

Magoosa (UK - Honu Eclipse)

All artists are 100% confirmed.

More to be confirmed over the next few months...