Hello Folks!
One of my earliest memories is going on a school trip to the Norfolk Broads and riding on a riverboat through the Fens. I watched dragonflies diving and swirling, ducks, swans and geese dabbling, and was truly enchanted by the place. The relaxing feeling of the push of the boat against the ebb of the tide had an extremely soothing effect, it was most tranquil, apart from somebody trying to throw someone’s lunchbox overboard and nearly hitting a swan. That was a lesson for us all - Never rile a swan with an errant lunchbox!
As time went on, I enjoyed going to RSPB bird reserves like the one at Strumpshaw in Norfolk with my dad. We’d traipse around the muddy paths on the off chance of catching a glimpse of a kestrel or river otter. It would usually be freezing cold or soaking wet, but that didn't matter, the opportunity of being in the great outdoors and experiencing the intricate wonders of the natural world was a simple yet wholly engaging pleasure. They don't call it the Fairly Good Outdoors or Not Bad Outdoors, after all. It's Great!
So anyway, while we’re on the subject of youth, it has come to my attention that the Mattell toy company have recently been under pressure from Greenpeace because of their use of rainforest materials in their packaging. A rather effective and irreverent Chainsaw Barbie campaign brought the use of this unpopular mulchy stuff to a grinding halt. Hurrah! Mass direct action can have a positive impact. Barbie’s learnt the error of her ways, and now thankfully Ken might be thinking of accepting her back. For more see: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/mattel-and-barbie-drop-defores...
Now I’d like to share a poem about one of the rarer residents of the Norfolk Waterways that you can at times be lucky enough to see, the noble bittern. Here is my personal tribute to our frisky feathered friend: -
Once Bittern
You’re once, twice, three times a bittern
Howling in the fens like a forlorn lover, smitten
You can be Cinnamon, Zigzag, Black or Dwarf
You stand like a nervous fisherman on the end of a wharf
You’re once bittern, twice shy
When you hear a passer by you fly
Out over the watery marsh
Your call is loud, but never harsh
As we stand in the twilight and listen to your song
But if we're not careful, you won't be singing for long
Lastly, I spotted this nice article on 12 Simple Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint that I quite liked: - http://uk.news.yahoo.com/twelve-simple-ways-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-20110623.html
Stay wild!
Tom Read, Norwich Greenpeace Group Member
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