-- Earth Day Tribute #2 --
It all started with colleagues at The Watershed Project, a watershed education nonprofit that I've been involved with, sharing stories of our first Earth Day memories. Complete the following sentence: "My first Earth Day memory is...." If you wish it would be great to mention (1) in what year and (2) place where it happened. I wonder if there is an evolution to the messages we're hearing on Earth Day from its first occurence.
My first Earth Day memory is from 1992. My primary school in Singapore held a team drawing contest and my team's won. The theme was global warming and the drawing was of a big round earth with and ice pack on its head and a thermometer sticking out of its mouth.
--Jane
My first Earth Day memory is from elementary school in 1972 -- the third Earth Day -- and the teachers enjoined we kids to decide what to do. We decided to climb a hill and hold a rally for Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, who was running for president against Richard Nixon. I went to a pretty cool elementary school. We didn't plant any trees, but we did build a pond. That's how I know so much about how leaky a pond built by kids can be.
--Guy
I used to look forward to Earth Day almost as much as any other holiday when I was in elementary school because I knew we'd get to plant a tree and spend the whole day outside!
--Jan
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Brisbane Riverfronts
Sunday, 15 March 2009
The other water discovery in Brisbane is, well, the Brisbane River. In this entry's title I use the plural because the riverfront is well-utilized in many areas, lending a diversity of landscapes and uses. We started at South Bank, over the Goodwill Bridge, through a mangrove walk and the Botanical Gardens, then down Albert St in the CBD and Queens St the pedestrian mall, back across Victoria Bridge to the ferris wheel and Cultural Center, on Clem Jones Promenade and past Streets Beach and back to where we parked. A good 3.5-hour leisurely walk later, I was impressed by how well used every bit of the riverfront in this area is. Public access seems to be the priority, with private residential and commercial developments still able to take advantage of views. Some photos to entice you below.
The Arbours with signs giving you options of the river run routes you can take.
Impressively well-designed "private" space hanging off perpendicular to the Goodwill ped/bike bridge. Note functional shading above bench, glass rails allowing bench warmer a clear view of the river, oblivious to the other users on the bridge. Between the bridge and the bench is a slim trash can design with trash/recycle compartments.
Mangrove walk at the foot of the Botanical Gardens: Notice how clean and well-maintained it is. Pretty low use, which makes for a tranquil walk and observation. Interpretive signs explain mangrove ecology and bird species to look out for.
View of Brisbane CBD from South Bank, across Victoria Bridge. "Random" public art like this pair of birds dot many spaces all around Brisbane.
Laid back Queenslander - yes, he is barefoot sitting on a bench by the river working on his laptop.
Below: Still on South Bank, Maritime Museum. High-end residential towers with views of the river, but not colonizing the river front which is still accessible to pedestrians.
The other water discovery in Brisbane is, well, the Brisbane River. In this entry's title I use the plural because the riverfront is well-utilized in many areas, lending a diversity of landscapes and uses. We started at South Bank, over the Goodwill Bridge, through a mangrove walk and the Botanical Gardens, then down Albert St in the CBD and Queens St the pedestrian mall, back across Victoria Bridge to the ferris wheel and Cultural Center, on Clem Jones Promenade and past Streets Beach and back to where we parked. A good 3.5-hour leisurely walk later, I was impressed by how well used every bit of the riverfront in this area is. Public access seems to be the priority, with private residential and commercial developments still able to take advantage of views. Some photos to entice you below.
The Arbours with signs giving you options of the river run routes you can take.
Impressively well-designed "private" space hanging off perpendicular to the Goodwill ped/bike bridge. Note functional shading above bench, glass rails allowing bench warmer a clear view of the river, oblivious to the other users on the bridge. Between the bridge and the bench is a slim trash can design with trash/recycle compartments.
Mangrove walk at the foot of the Botanical Gardens: Notice how clean and well-maintained it is. Pretty low use, which makes for a tranquil walk and observation. Interpretive signs explain mangrove ecology and bird species to look out for.
View of Brisbane CBD from South Bank, across Victoria Bridge. "Random" public art like this pair of birds dot many spaces all around Brisbane.
Laid back Queenslander - yes, he is barefoot sitting on a bench by the river working on his laptop.Below: Still on South Bank, Maritime Museum. High-end residential towers with views of the river, but not colonizing the river front which is still accessible to pedestrians.
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