One of DJ Spooky’s latest projects involved traveling to Antarctica to use the ice, wildlife, footsteps and other sounds to construct an album and multimedia performance. Using ambient sound as source material is older than using vinyl samples, but Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica is a multimedia performance that comes at a key time in the life of the icy continent. As my homie Joe Block once said about one of my raps, “I woudn’t go bumping it in my car or nothin’”, but I have to hand it to a real hip-hop icon for doing his part for the struggle.

People have been going nuts about Nancy Pelosi’s mouse protection provision in the recently passed stimulus package. At first, I thought this was just another example of government waste and local politicians using the systems to aggrandize themselves within the local political arena. Then I saw a talk by Cheryl Davis of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The SFPUC administers the water supply that feeds San Francisco and neighboring areas. The task of bringing water from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir to the Bay Area is no small feat. Much of the transit lines are undergoing seismic retrofits to better secure the San Francisco water supply. A water interruption due to an earthquake could cost up to 28.7 Billion dollars, not to mention the panic that would overtake the city. The Hetch Hechy water, which comes mostly from the Sierra snow pack, makes its way via tubes that traverse both private and public lands. After the water arrives to the bay area, it is stored in the reservoirs West of the 280 Freeway until it makes its way to the city. These reservoirs and open spaces contain not only precious watersheds, but also many endangered species including the much-maligned Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse.

I agree that protecting a mouse does not provide “stimulus”, but by recognizing that everything in the environment is connected and by protecting the weak species, we may be protecting ourselves. It is possible that once we go down the road of runaway budgets there is no turning back, but it is certain that once a species is gone, there is no getting it back.

Conscious rap is world-wide and being used to inform farmers of new tools. In Africa, Maasai rapper Mr. Ebbo is the spokesperson for The MoneyMaker,a foot-powered pump developed and marketed by the non-proft KickStart. The pump is insurance against drought, helping small farmers irrigate crops. I wish all rappers sold out in this way:
(via Justin)

The Beastie Boys’ production company Oscilloscope Laboratories has put out a documentary about water privatization. Irena Salina’s film, which was an official selection at Sundance, builds the case against corporate ownership of water resources. The website for Flow has a link to a petition to add a 31st amendment to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishing access to clean water as a fundamental human right.

Check out the preview:

Further Reading

In her new book, Elizabeth Royte tells the story of how bottled water became the drink of choice for America. Bottlemania explains how a country with excellent, free, public tap water was persuaded to buy water in plastic bottles. Anyone who feels good about recycling their plastic water bottle will learn that they’re bottle is actually “downcycled” into other materials that are then thrown out. Bottlemania explores how water has become business and the effects this is having on a global scale. So sorry Aquapodmoms, even if I am fooled by the 6-8 glasses wives’ tale, I’ll still be using my sweet metal water bottle filled with FREE tap water.

The Colorado River peters out just before reaching the Gulf of California. The water is diverted to fuel agriculture and the breakneck growth of the arid southwest. While many Midwesterners have moved to Arizona and New Mexico in the last few years, folks fleeing the cold weather and poor Midwest economy won’t be taking the Great Lakes with them. A coalition of Great Lakes states including Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and New York have agreed to the Great Lakes Basin Compact in order to conserve this non-renewable resource. The compact will still have to pass muster in Congress where regional special interests representing dryer states might balk.

Listen to the full story on NPR.

Last Sunday, Roz Savage rowed under the Golden Gate Bridge, attempting to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from the US to Australia. Roz has previously rowed across the Atlantic on her own, breaking 4 oars on the way. A former corporate cog, Roz has made it her life’s work to seek adventure on the high seas while raising environmental awareness. She is definitely one teched out and well-loved rower, reportedly recieving 5 ipods chocked full of books and music as gifts. Her boat is equipped with solar panels so she is making updates on Twitter and posting videos to her blog, where you can also track her progress. Check out this short documentary that tells her story.