Article by Zimbabwean journalist, Emmanuel Koro
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- An Inspirational Call to Action
Sally Andrew's blog for fire dogs (guardians and watchdogs of the earth) engaging heart, mind, politics and technology to cool the planet.
The Fire Dogs of Climate Change
September 10th, 2009The Earth Under your Feet
August 28th, 2009 - Dedicated to you, the long time fire dogs of EWT
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Invite to Jo’burg launch of The Fire Dogs of Climate Change (hosted by the Endangered Wildlife Trust)
July 29th, 2009Sally Andrew is a sublime storyteller
July 16th, 2009Review in current issue of Green Spirit, UK environment magazine
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Howling Fire Dog book launch at Kirstenbosch
June 25th, 2009Launch of the Fire Dogs of Climate Change
KAREN WATKINS NEWS Thursday 11 June 2009 Bulletin 9
Article and pictures by Karen Watkins of Cape Community Newspapers
The Fire Dogs of Climate Change: An inspirational call to action was launched at Kirstenbosch.
But this was no ordinary book launch. The invitation took the form of a competition and asked all fire dogs - guardians and watchdogs of the earth - and friends to howl. Entrants could howl individually, in pairs or in packs, dressed up, with painted faces or just leap in the air.
The judges awarded the prize according to passion, commitment, range, heart-song, grooming, and ability to make other fire dogs laugh or howl.
This light note was a contrast to the serious subject of Mrs Andrew’s second book - the threat of climate change. “Climate change is the greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our time, causing suffering to hundreds of millions of people worldwide,” said Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General and president of the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum (GBF). A recent study commissioned by GBF shows that Africa is the most at risk from climate change, home to 15 of the 20 most vulnerable countries.
“Fire Dogs is a vital and heartfelt book written with the passion and vision needed for these times,” said Alli Chagi-Starr of Green for All.
This light note was a contrast to the serious subject of Mrs Andrew’s second book - the threat of climate change. “Climate change is the greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our time, causing suffering to hundreds of millions of people worldwide,” said Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General and president of the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum (GBF). A recent study commissioned by GBF shows that Africa is the most at risk from climate change, home to 15 of the 20 most vulnerable countries.“Fire Dogs is a vital and heartfelt book written with the passion and vision needed for these times,” said Alli Chagi-Starr of Green for All.
Author Sally Andrew of Muizenberg inspires our hearts, minds and hands in the quest to cool the planet. She sparks us into action with stories, fact sheets, an educator’s guide and examples from around the world of political action, sustainable living and technology. In her speech at the launch Ms Andrew said she was inspired by a dream to read stories to dogs after questioning what she could do about the struggles and scars on the earth’s surface. “And after consulting with the earth herself, I was instructed to open the collective heart of people,” she said. It was February 2006 and, according to Chinese astrology, the year of the fire dog.
Liz McDaid of the Green Connection was the keynote speaker and commended Ms Andrew for including a tremendous amount of information into a small book and for making it easy to read. She enjoyed the combination of science, technology against action and inspiring examples that are in the
book. ”At the back she offers solutions, from a washing machine that runs without water to a fridge that runs on sound,” said Ms McDaid who is with Conservation International.
Other fascinating inventions include solar-powered boats and others that run on steam, plus cars that run on air. Ms McDaid argued that we need to challenge the belief that it is only the scientists in the white coats that know everything. “We can all feel what is right and wrong and we must trust that feeling and equip ourselves to act,” she said. And as for people who deny that climate change is happening. ”Those of the “flat world society”, such as farmer’s who say let’s carry on, meanwhile their crops are dying due to drought,” said Ms McDaid. ”Thousands of scientists agree about climate change and that global warming is caused by humans,” she said.
Ms Andrew said there is not one climatologist who has discounted climate change. “Yes, it is cyclic, but we should be going into an ice age and the earth should be cooling,” she gestured with a shrug and open palms. The heat is on. We’re all stewards of the earth. The book is inspiring and shows us how to reduce our impact on climate change. It’s a book for those who care about their children, and their children’s children.
The winner of the howling competition was David Parry-Davies, the editor of the Enviropaedia,
● The Fire Dogs of Climate Change: An inspirational call to action is published by Findhorn Press and is available from leading bookshops, or visit www.firedogs.findhornpress.com
Pictures:■ Author Sally Andrew at the
unusual launch of her book The
Fire Dogs of Climate Change.
■This was
no ordinary
book launch
as guests
were asked
to howl, like
Bosky
Andrew, the
author’s
mother.
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The First Fire Dog Launch
June 2nd, 2009The evening began with the blessings of a gentle Cape rain and ended with some hot fire dog howling.
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Wild Writing at Franschoek Literary Festival
May 11th, 2009
Wild Writing: Stepping into the stream…When the words begin to get stuck on the roof of my mouth, or the ink in my pen feels dry; when my fingers are plodding heavily across the keyboard, then I know its time. Time to leave my desk and find a stream to step into. Time to do some Wild Writing.
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US enviro and economic crises bound together
May 5th, 2009The environmental and economic crises are bound together. Stop fossil fuels now. Although I live far away from the US, on the southernmost tip of Africa, I sleep a little better at night since Obama won the elections. It is reassuring having a superhero with a gorgeous smile at the helm of a world super-power, rather than a brain-damaged oil-cowboy.
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Is Biochar a Danger?
May 5th, 2009Earlier on this blog I included information about Biochar as a potential climate solution. George Monbiot (whose opinions and research I have great respect for) and a number of environmental organisations, argue that it is not a solution and in fact is a potential great danger. Most of their critiques relate to the social and environmental implications of how Biochar technology is applied, particularly in the hands of carbon traders (although they also question the scientific validity of the claims as to its effectiveness as a carbon sink) I would be curious to know if (in the right hands and under the right conditions) Biochar could be used in support of the Earth? I am however swayed by their current argument that biochar proposals are in the wrong (commercial) hands and its proposed application could be detrimental to people, land and ecosystems …
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