Mannkind Charity

March 10, 2010

Come on! Let’s go geo-engineering this Spring!

Hi All,

With spring fast approaching (and in many cases already in bloom!) I can’t help but get excited about the tree-planting event(s) we have in the works.

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...Vancouver!

I say, “event(s)” and “in the works”, because we currently find ourselves at a bit of a financial impasse with the current location (Maple Park, Surrey BC) that is forcing us to look at making other arrangements in order to fulfill our pledge to put 10,000 more trees into the ground this spring.

I will keep you all posted as we may have to make a trip to Surrey City Hall to address the counsel for more support!

Now, beyond all the business, I have to say again, that I’m excited at the prospect of planting!

To have an opportunity to give back to the earth and to be a part of the healing process for the air, water and soil is a meaningful part of Mannkind’s commitment to Mother Nature.

(In my opinion) Global Climate Change is upon us, always has been always will be, in one form or another–cold, hot, moderately-warm…what-have-you; and while this most recent round has been acute & aggressive, at the end of the day, I don’t think we need a scientist, or a politician, to tell us that we are living poorly and that we need to pitch-in & pick up after ourselves.

Volunteer for one of our tree-planting events and you’ll have a direct opportunity to dig-in for a better, GREENer tomorrow!  And what’s more, you’ll be geo-engineering!

Yes, Hi!  There you are…welcome, everyone, I’d like you to meet geo-engineering!

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A once shy and odd-ball field of inquiry within the scientific community, geo-engineering is now emerging to the forefront of public discussion in the highest political & economic circles; in fact, Bill Gates has recently pledged 4.5 million towards geo-engineering research, and some of it will find its way right here into western Canada via David Keith and the University of Calgary.

Despite a recent rise in popularity, it’s important to keep in mind why geo-engineering was, and really is, so shy; two reasons, mainly, and these speak to the more elaborate expressions of the science (tree-planting, while it may be defined as geo-engineering, very rarely gets out of hand): first, its ecological impact is too unpredictable, especially on a global scale; and second, its technological requirements are quite, shall we say, far-fetched & fairly dangerous!

Moreover, they are all nearly impossible to test effectively due to the necessary arrangement of international accords, oversight & budgeting; and that may take a while, given what’s currently on the international table of discussion: war, famine, pestilence to name a few of the older courses…notwithstanding, major public figures are taking notice and talking about the practical benefits of solar radiation management systems and preemptive hurricane reduction practices.  All of which may indeed prove useful in the coming decades of expected environmental volatility.

Feel free to click through the articles I have included below to get a better idea of how imaginative & innovative these ideas for geo-engineering really are and what challenges they face coming to fruition.  I have also included a few links that touch on how the planet itself is coping with, and responding to, the effects of climate change!

There are many more articles out there related to either geo-engineering or how the earth is healing itself, so please feel free to add the articles you come across that are cool & interesting to the comments section.

Enjoy!

Andrew G


Geo-engineering:

http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/02/10/geoengineering-inevitable

http://www.livescience.com/environment/etc/100130-geoengineering-schemes-yay-boo.html

The Earth Healing itself:

http://www.livescience.com/environment/070926_gw_cure.html

http://www.livescience.com/environment/etc/100130-water-vapor.html

November 15, 2009

Shared Photo-Experience of the Downtown Eastside Vancouver, BC

Hi Friends,

I would like to re-submitt an old-post in a new format, something more engaging & organic!

The post originally contained one very insightful photo-journal of the downtown eastside of Vancouver, BC (DTES); but I want to expand opportunities to experience this area of our city by adding more photo-essays and reports that  I come across while researching the area, and I encourage you to do the same!

So drop by and visit when you like and add material through the comments section– it’ll be kind of like a blog-within-a-blog.

There is really something compelling about these people & places and I feel I am able to develop a better sense of their perspective through the subtle proximity of the pictures and the genuine nature of the reporting.  I look forward to seeing more of the DTES through the pictures, stories, testimonials, etc. that you submit!

For me, these illuminating flashes in dark places help prepare me for my role in the area, especially First United Church; because it’s important to keep in mind, and I can say this now that I have been there more than once, the people we see in line are real— real prostitutes, real pushers, real peddlers, real mothers, real children, real poverty.

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I believe these essays & reports present their stories well and share a surprisingly charming, albeit troubled, slice of the DTES few people ever experience.

I look forward to your comments & questions.


Andrew G


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http://www.sequential-one.com/blog/?p=1795

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http://www.vancouversun.com/life/community+garden+takes+root+Downtown+Eastside/2168688/story.html

essay-photo-dtes-motorbike

http://thetyee.ca/gallery/2004/06/03/Crucible_of_Poverty/

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http://www.megaphonemagazine.com/content/peoples_history_downtown_eastside.html

November 14, 2009

Penny wise but Pound foolish! Can societies gain $ from leaving forests intact rather than clearing them?

Hi Friends,

It’s often been said, especially after Oscar Wilde said it, that we know the price of everything and the value of nothing; this is especially true when it comes to our commercial & industrial assessments of the natural environment.

Finally!  A report that speaks to the vital role biodiversity plays in sustaining, strengthening & evolving our global economies– thanks again BBC!

And keep your ears & eyes peeled for news about the coming UN Climate summit being held in Copenhagen next month!

forestfirepa4661

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8357723.stm

Andrew G

November 12, 2009

William Beagle Park wrap-up and did you say 10,000 trees next time??!!!

Hi Friends,

(a bit belated but here it be…)

We came, we saw, we PLANTED.

What a day!  Sunshine, smiles, flying darts, popping balloons, dirt, potato-Chia-pet things and face-painting…Oh, and I forgot to mention prizes of all sorts & sizes and a hearty lunch!

Plus, and this really is a big PLUS, we put 860 trees right back where they belong–in the ground!

Despite the fact that the turn-out was less than expected and we were sans live-music, the kids carried the day!  Their laughter, work-ethic & enthusiasm made the whole event a breeze.

The Mannkind team will be working hard to put on another eco-event soon– rumour has it Dave Mann has his eyes set on 10,000 trees for the next planting, sometime in Spring 2010!

Sponsors are already pledging their support, so pass on the WORD via facebook, twitter, or just yell out the window at people passing by and help us make this the best Mannkind Eco-Event EVER!! (or at least until we get crazy enough to go for 100,000!!!!)

Thanks to all of the kids & volunteers in the community that came out & got dirty for a great cause and a big “high-five’ to the Surrey Parks Board Staff for their smiles, shovels, useful information, awesome potato Chia-pet things and for helping us set-up and clean-up!

Andrew G

September 24, 2009

What’s going on at William Beagle Park this Saturday…?!

Hi Friends,

Lots of fun & fanfare planned for the big eco-event this Saturday in Surrey, so get ready to roll up your sleeves, put on your sunscreen and get dirty for a great cause!

Here are the broad strokes:

Planting 860 trees!
Eco-trivia balloon-popping dart game with prizes!
Live Music performed by local musicians Alan Wong, Chris Palser & more…
Face-painting! (for all ages, don’t be shy!)
3 legged race: Dynamic duo’s of kids and adults racing for pride (the good kind) & prizes!

Moreover, on the PR front, one of our Directors, James Randhawa, had a chance to share some info about the event & the charity live on the Morning Show with Chris Coburn & Elaine Scollan from 100.5 The PEAK Vancouver!  So a big thanks to The PEAK team for helping us get the word out there!

And last, but not least, Klondike Contracting was kind enough to provide us with volunteers & awesome prizes for the top 3 finishers in the soon to be legendary 3 legged race!

It’s all adding up to an amazing day and I look forward to seeing you all there under the big blue sky!

Andrew G

September 7, 2009

Blogg’in and Volunteering for Mannkind…

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 11:14 pm

Hi Friends,

It’s great having an opportunity to share time with you and explore issues related to the work of our organization. I am grateful to Dave & James for encouraging me to participate in this blog and I look forward to engaging with you through your comments & questions!

For me, the great thing about volunteering with Mannkind is that I receive a chance to really get involved in the planning & exercise of social and environmental initiatives—for example, two of our programs involve cooking for the homeless in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver (DTES) and planting trees throughout local communities.  From my first day forward, the experience has always been more than simply handing out food and digging holes for shrubs, with Mannkind, I work hand-in-hand with awesome volunteers that consistently encourage & inspire me to be more creative with each event and program advance.

Whether I’m making sandwiches, planting shrubs, painting faces, planning events or blogging—I can do it my way! The effort and enthusiasm I bring is always welcome and reflects in a positive direction.

I believe this charity’s platform provides its human capital (you & me) a meaningful opportunity to work hard and make a difference in the lives of real people here at home and around the world—the timeless, give a man a fish or teach a man to fish, adage roots well here and has potential to flourish with Mannkind.

In order to foster long-term & holistic solutions we need to reach out to the public to involve their insight & capital. Through our voice, the public can begin to experience our vision and hopefully, become interested and involved in sustaining the work we do.

But for now, we can’t wait for others to take notice.  Change takes time.  So in the early stages, the work all begets from you & me.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

M.Gandhi

Andrew G

July 24, 2009

DONATION TO VANCOUVER AND SURREY FOOD BANKS!

After our successful feeding at First United Church on Friday July 17, our faithful volunteers Jote Sandhu, Andrew Gordon and James Randhawa took a journey down to the Vancouver Food Bank to donate ten boxes of fresh strawberries and several bags of french bread.

The Vancouver Food Bank was appreciative and we are happy to help any time we have the food to give.

Mannkind could not have accomplished this without the great generosity of Costco located on King George Highway in Surrey, BC, which provides us with bread and fruit every Friday (and sometimes more often!) so that we may carry out our charitable objectives with respect to aiding our community’s poverty stricken individuals.

Furthermore, on July 20, 2009, Costco in Surrey kindly donated several boxes of bananas which Dave Mann drove down to the Surrey Food Bank right away, they were very excited to receive such a hefty payload!

July 13, 2009

Mannkind be blogg’in…

We here at Mannkind Charitable Society are excited to introduce to our visitors the new blog feature!

We will use the blog to supply weekly updates on the vision for our charitable events, what plans are in store for the future and our progress along the way.

Don’t forget, we will be hosting another feeding this Friday July 17, 2009 at First United Church located on East Hastings and Gore Avenue, Vancouver, BC. All volunteers are welcomed, please contact us at info@mannkindcharity.com if you are interested in joining our ranks!

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Sincerely,

James Randhawa
Director

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