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James Balog’s latest work, the Extreme Ice Survey, captures the twisting, soaring forms of threatened wild ice.

To see the natural world through James Balog’s lens is to see it as an artist would — through fresh eyes, as if for the first time, with no preconceived notions. His photos of jungle animals, for instance, are arresting in their directness, simplicity, even sensuality. His subjects assume the same weight and importance as a human portrait sitter, and demand (as a human subject would) that the viewer engage with them rather than simply spectate.

His newest work is no less powerful, no less engaging — and it carries an urgent message. For several years, Balog has been going up north to shoot the half-alive ice of the mammoth glaciers for his Extreme Ice Survey, a look at the shocking effects of abrupt climate change in Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Soaring, dripping, glowing and crumbling, arctic ice under Balog’s eye requires the viewer to engage.

A new Nova/PBS TV special and a new book, Extreme Ice Now, are helping him spread the word that this glorious world is degrading at a speed we couldn’t imagine until we saw it through his eyes.

“Each new series by James Balog represents a quantum leap in creativity, which takes us deeper into the ultimate mystery of humanity’s relationship to the natural world.”

James Nachtwey, photographer and TED Prize winner

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss.html

Willie Smits has devoted his life to saving the forest habitat of orangutans, the “thinkers of the jungle.” As towns, farms and wars encroach on native forests, Smits works to save what is left.

Willie Smits works at the complicated intersection of humankind, the animal world and our green planet. In his early work as a forester in Indonesia, he came to a deep understanding of that triple relationship, as he watched the growing population of Sulawesi move into (or burn for fuel) forests that are home to the orangutan. These intelligent animals were being killed for food, traded as pets or simply failing to thrive as their forest home degraded.

Smits believes that to rebuild orangutan populations, we must first rebuild their forest habitat — which means helping local people find options other than the short-term fix of harvesting forests to survive. His Masarang Foundation raises money and awareness to restore habitat forests around the world — and to empower local people. In 2007, Masarang opened a palm-sugar factory that uses thermal energy to turn sugar palms (fast-growing trees that thrive in degraded soils) into sugar and even ethanol, returning cash and power to the community and, with luck, starting the cycle toward a better future for people, trees and orangs.

“This man has dedicated his life to saving the world, and for this he earns our deepest respect.”

Jean Kern, Ode

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/willie_smits_restores_a_rainforest.html

Many conventional farmers today rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a legacy of “Green Revolution”.

Traditional irrigation system known as Subak is beginning to fail as Bali begin to experience shortage of water supply, cutting off vital water flows to the fields.

http://www.rumahtulisan.com/08/01/2009/kliping/in-denpasar-farmers-struggle-against-mounting-odds.html

http://www.rumahtulisan.com/18/09/2008/aneka-rupa/bedugul-organic-farmers-struggle-against-long-distribution.html

Farmers praying at Pura Ulun Danu Bulian before declaration

This declaration is initiated by Ibu Dr Kartini of Bali Organic Association (BOA). Ibu Kartini is known in the organic circle as “Dr Cacin” (Dr Earthworm) and she warns us of the condition of agricultural resources in this island such as land fertility and water availability has been “very alarming”. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has caused severe drought in the dry season and reduced soil’s natural ability to hold organic matters and micro-organisms which is essentially the life material of the soil.

Ibu Kartini addressing farmers and attendees

Once the soil looses all its organic matters, then it also looses its ability to support life and grow plants.

This destructive cycle can be broken if farmers can stop using chemicals and to switch to using organic composts.

Proud organic farmers showcasing their produce

Fruits & vegitables grown by organic farmers in Bali

Organically grown rice is available too

Good news is that in Bali there are growing number of organic farmers who uses traditional Balinese method of farming and does not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

BOA helps organic farmers with Internal Control System (ICS) to ensure their methods are following organic guidelines and market them in fair-value to ensure their livelihood.