Video of Stream and Clouds
I like to watch cloud forms move up ridges and hillsides. I also like to see the branches and leaves trailing in the stream, bending back and forth.
News — nature
Visionary Environmentalism - Need A Sense of Wonder
Need “transformation” and “awe at the grandeur, interconnectedness and unpredictability of the ecosystems and wild landscapes”, not compromise. Need enforceable laws and empathy for the victims, not pro-corporate appeasement.
Posted on October 30, 2015
Being Out in Nature Makes Us Healthy
Trees give off anti-microbial compounds. People exercise and socialize out in wild places. "It reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, and preterm birth, and increases sleep duration."
https://www.treehugger.com/health/huge-study-confirms-significant-health-benefits-nature.html
Being in Wild Places Reduces Stress
George Wuerthner sent out this
Abstract: A growing number of studies have shown that visiting green spaces and being exposed to natural environments can reduce psychological stress. A number of questions concerning the effects of natural environments on levels of stress remain including, “Are activities engaged in natural environments more or less beneficial at reducing stress when compared to those done in more urban settings?” This study examined this question from the perspective of “levels of nature”. That is, data on levels of stress were collected from three sites, one site having wilderness-like characteristics, a second site representing a municipal-type park, and a third site representing a built environment (indoor exercise facility) within a city. Data were generated using biophysical markers (cortisol and amylase) and a psychological measure within a pre- and post-visit format. Findings suggest that visiting natural environments can be beneficial in reducing both physical and psychological stress levels, with visitors to a natural environment reporting significantly lower levels of stress than their counterparts visiting a more urbanized outdoor setting or indoor exercise facility. Keywords: biomarkers; human health; natural environments; psychological stress.
Levels of Nature and Stress Response Alan Ewert 1,* ID and Yun Chang 2 ID 1 School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA 2 School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA; ychan12@ilstu.edu * Correspondence: aewert@indiana.edu; Tel.: +1-812-855-8116 Received: 2 May 2018; Accepted: 14 May 2018; Published: 17 May 2018
Neat Poem About Listening to Nature
Here is a poem by Kristen Marshall. She is an active volunteer in the Boulder Rights of Nature group. Link Every Thursday she used to visit a sick friend, and make him pancakes. She often walks to get places. She would volunteer for the community bookstore. http://www.boulderweekly.com/entertainment/words/still-life/
Great Tree Book: The Songs of Trees
David George Haskell's new book fascinates me. He tells of the music and songs of trees and rivers: the sounds of rain on different leaves, the wind in the upper leaves of the ceibo trees, the calls of bromeliad frogs, of parrots, of insects, monkeys, crested owls, spectacled owls, tawny screech owls, and tinamou. He recounts the pain of a bullet ant bite. He relates that " good and harmonious life" with reciprocity and solidarity" Listen to the trees as you walk amongst them and as you dream. He describes the tension as local communities fight against the oil companies and consumerism in the Ecuadorean forests.