I meant to blog about my card of the week, but it can wait another day.
I've been wanting to rant about this subject for a while, and now is as good as ever. If you're not aware, New Zealand is doing everything it can to get rid of that clean green image and get the bucks rolling (into which pockets I'm not sure, definitely not the ones of common good).
When I first arrived in New Zealand, I was blown away by the amazing sceneries of untouched nature. And you'd think people would value it.
I won't go into the details of everyday "un-greenness" (top loaders? Hello!) or even the paradoxes of an industrialized country that has people living in freezing cold un-insulated damp houses half the year, thus using shameful amounts of power to run heater and dehumidifiers (and burning tons of wood).
The governments attitude itself is enough for a long blog post.
Since I have been living here, I have seen a hill on the West Coast of the South Island (home to native snails) flicked to a mining company, proposals to open some reserve land to "exploration" and to look for oil offshore (just after the BP oil explosion, what a timing that was) and now a proposed development on a beautiful un-spoilt beach, namely New Chums in the Coromandel. And I'm sure there has been a lot more going on that I missed (we don't have TV and I don't read the paper everyday).
Still think this is a green country? It only looks green because settlers deforested 90% of New Zealand and set up cattle and sheep farms.
I really saddens me to watch this happening and feel completely helpless. On days like this, I really wish I'd won Lotto. Twice. Greed and power will always make a man weak and kill his brains. I guess we just don't enjoy the same things and our foresight of the future is different. Maybe all the rich people are just getting richer so they can build a rocket ship that will take them to Mars before Earth breaks down completely. I wish they'd left already.
Anyway, I am still crossing fingers that all this proposed development of New Chums sees is the bin. And that John Darby dies of a heart attack. I mean it.
If like me you don't have TV and if you're wondering what the ! I'm talking about, take 12mn off and watch this. You can also have a stroll on this facebook page and show your support for one beach in the whole of New Zealand.
Someone told me once that in China they paint the grass green on touristy areas... looks like they're not the only ones!
The love of upcycling: turning the old into new.
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
mini art journal challenge: week 14
This week's prompt: "Birds". I was looking forward to this one. I like birds. Somehow I don't think it is really reflected in my card though.
Since moving to New Zealand, I have come to be at times obsessed with birds. I would have my binoculars handy wherever I'd go, along with my "Field guide to the birds of New Zealand". I would go for bush walks in the Waitakere and marvel at the sight and sound of native birds. I have come to love bird watching. There is something fascinating about the natural history of New Zealand in the fact that both island were mainly populated by birds until the arrival of the first human beings. A lot of birds were flightless, and had no defense mechanism against intruders such as rats, possums or even humans. The largest eagle of all times lived in New Zealand and hunted Moa (a big ostrich-like bird).
Bill Hammond's bird headed people reflect this heritage best in my opinion. I went to see an exhibition of his paintings at the art gallery in Wellington last year, I was so impressed.
Anyway, I have been a bird lover and keen bird watcher for a few years now, although I've found it harder to get my fix here in Gisborne with a 2 and a half year old. I've done quite a few trips to Kapiti island (where I saw a Kiwi real close and calling!), wish I had done more to Tiritiri Matangi island (where I saw from upclose a beautiful Kokako!) and a lot of bird surrounded walks around both islands. And I look forward to passing on my love and knowledge to my son! He already know the names of the few birds we see on the coast and during our walks, but they are hard to spot sometimes, especially for a little person who doesn't know what to look for.
As fate would have it, it turned out that our local monthly newsletter, Wasab!, had also themed this month around birds. So I didn't have to look very far for pictures of birds! Since taking a picture of my card though I have added a feather or two, so I will have to update the photo at some stage.
Since moving to New Zealand, I have come to be at times obsessed with birds. I would have my binoculars handy wherever I'd go, along with my "Field guide to the birds of New Zealand". I would go for bush walks in the Waitakere and marvel at the sight and sound of native birds. I have come to love bird watching. There is something fascinating about the natural history of New Zealand in the fact that both island were mainly populated by birds until the arrival of the first human beings. A lot of birds were flightless, and had no defense mechanism against intruders such as rats, possums or even humans. The largest eagle of all times lived in New Zealand and hunted Moa (a big ostrich-like bird).
Bill Hammond's bird headed people reflect this heritage best in my opinion. I went to see an exhibition of his paintings at the art gallery in Wellington last year, I was so impressed.
Anyway, I have been a bird lover and keen bird watcher for a few years now, although I've found it harder to get my fix here in Gisborne with a 2 and a half year old. I've done quite a few trips to Kapiti island (where I saw a Kiwi real close and calling!), wish I had done more to Tiritiri Matangi island (where I saw from upclose a beautiful Kokako!) and a lot of bird surrounded walks around both islands. And I look forward to passing on my love and knowledge to my son! He already know the names of the few birds we see on the coast and during our walks, but they are hard to spot sometimes, especially for a little person who doesn't know what to look for.
As fate would have it, it turned out that our local monthly newsletter, Wasab!, had also themed this month around birds. So I didn't have to look very far for pictures of birds! Since taking a picture of my card though I have added a feather or two, so I will have to update the photo at some stage.
And here's the finished card:
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
mini art journal challenge: week 6
Yes, I made it! This week's prompt was: "love, love, love". Yes it's pretty simple, but I was stuck until last night. I didn't want to make a random love card, I needed true meaning!
I spent my evening last night ringing several people I'd never met regarding olives and sending them for pressing. There are tons of trees laden with olives that are not getting picked around town and we thought we'd spend a week end picking them so we could get our own olive oil. The problem is that there is no press here, so it has to be sent away, and olives have to be pressed within 3 days of being picked otherwise they oxidize...Since it wouldn't be worth driving 3 hours to get under 100kg of olives pressed (the average yield is 12-15%) we need to "team up" with other people who are doing the same thing.
So that is how I ended up ringing around all the local olive experts, being referred from one to the other. After I hung up from the last person, I just couldn't believe how nice and helpful everyone had been, and that reminded me it was one of the things that struck me when I first moved to New Zealand and one of the reasons why I love this country. People are genuinely good, pleased to help and very friendly. So there was my idea for this week's challenge. I love New Zealand. I love the country, I love the people, I love the culture, and of course I love my own little piece of kiwi (represented by the little surfer!).
Of course nothing's perfect and New Zealand's no exception, but I will leave that for another post.
I used some designs found in the paper, big red hearts with the word "LOVE" written in red (can hardly see it with the rest of the collage), on the right I stuck a band of maori Koru design. I cut out both islands then pasted them in the middle, and cut out some major city names and placed them around the map. I also cut out and pasted "New Zeland" twice, a little surfer, a dolphin and some writing that say" We love good karma", "We love whales" and "We love music". Then I put a few layers of varnish (still in the process), to give it a real glossy look. Only downside: I always forget that varnish on newspaper gives it a darker rendering and also reveals the writing on the other side. Maybe I'll remember next time?
I spent my evening last night ringing several people I'd never met regarding olives and sending them for pressing. There are tons of trees laden with olives that are not getting picked around town and we thought we'd spend a week end picking them so we could get our own olive oil. The problem is that there is no press here, so it has to be sent away, and olives have to be pressed within 3 days of being picked otherwise they oxidize...Since it wouldn't be worth driving 3 hours to get under 100kg of olives pressed (the average yield is 12-15%) we need to "team up" with other people who are doing the same thing.
So that is how I ended up ringing around all the local olive experts, being referred from one to the other. After I hung up from the last person, I just couldn't believe how nice and helpful everyone had been, and that reminded me it was one of the things that struck me when I first moved to New Zealand and one of the reasons why I love this country. People are genuinely good, pleased to help and very friendly. So there was my idea for this week's challenge. I love New Zealand. I love the country, I love the people, I love the culture, and of course I love my own little piece of kiwi (represented by the little surfer!).
Of course nothing's perfect and New Zealand's no exception, but I will leave that for another post.
I used some designs found in the paper, big red hearts with the word "LOVE" written in red (can hardly see it with the rest of the collage), on the right I stuck a band of maori Koru design. I cut out both islands then pasted them in the middle, and cut out some major city names and placed them around the map. I also cut out and pasted "New Zeland" twice, a little surfer, a dolphin and some writing that say" We love good karma", "We love whales" and "We love music". Then I put a few layers of varnish (still in the process), to give it a real glossy look. Only downside: I always forget that varnish on newspaper gives it a darker rendering and also reveals the writing on the other side. Maybe I'll remember next time?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Camping week end
We went camping for the first time this summer. Never too late I guess, good prep for next year!
There is a thing called freedom camping here on the east coast of New Zealand, I'm not sure whether it exists in many other places. Over a set period during the warm summer months, some beaches fill up with "long term" campers. They basically set camp for a week or two (or more) during the holiday after getting a permit from council. The permit is pretty cheap, but you have to have your own chemical toilet. Other than that, no obligation but to leave the place as you found it. There are no other facilities either, so you have to take everything you will need with you: shower, water, food. It 's great way to have a holiday away from it all and live a pretty basic lifestyle for a short while (although I have spotted a few TV aerial sticking out of some of the more modern camper-vans this summer).
You'd be surprised at how packed those freedom camping spots can get over the holidays!
We chose to go to one of those spots, a beautiful beach called Loisel's, just half an hour from Gisborne. At this time of the year most holidayers have left, so we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. As soon as we parked, Tahi jumped out of the car into the sand and only jumped back in when it was time to leave.
We met up with a bunch of our friends which made the week end even nicer. Our camp was pretty eclectic and a good sample of camping styles: from the simple yet efficient tent, to the caravan ( including one redesigned by our talented friend Katy Wallace ), the home made camping trailer/DJ space (made from reclaimed material by my evenly talented partner Josh) and even a big camper-van (no TV aerial).
The surf was good, it felt nice to be in the water and away for the city, no mater how small it is. Being surrounded by friends and little else was all we asked for.
There is a thing called freedom camping here on the east coast of New Zealand, I'm not sure whether it exists in many other places. Over a set period during the warm summer months, some beaches fill up with "long term" campers. They basically set camp for a week or two (or more) during the holiday after getting a permit from council. The permit is pretty cheap, but you have to have your own chemical toilet. Other than that, no obligation but to leave the place as you found it. There are no other facilities either, so you have to take everything you will need with you: shower, water, food. It 's great way to have a holiday away from it all and live a pretty basic lifestyle for a short while (although I have spotted a few TV aerial sticking out of some of the more modern camper-vans this summer).
You'd be surprised at how packed those freedom camping spots can get over the holidays!
We chose to go to one of those spots, a beautiful beach called Loisel's, just half an hour from Gisborne. At this time of the year most holidayers have left, so we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. As soon as we parked, Tahi jumped out of the car into the sand and only jumped back in when it was time to leave.
We met up with a bunch of our friends which made the week end even nicer. Our camp was pretty eclectic and a good sample of camping styles: from the simple yet efficient tent, to the caravan ( including one redesigned by our talented friend Katy Wallace ), the home made camping trailer/DJ space (made from reclaimed material by my evenly talented partner Josh) and even a big camper-van (no TV aerial).
The surf was good, it felt nice to be in the water and away for the city, no mater how small it is. Being surrounded by friends and little else was all we asked for.
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