blowing up mountains

(photo taken from Orionmagazine.org, no copyright info available)

I laughed for a full minute when I read this header the other day: Science confirms that blowing up mountains harms mountains. Yes, the reason why Grist.org is one of my favourite environmental news sources is because of its sense of humour.

The content, though, is no joke.

According to the blog, scientists have proved that "irreversible environmental impacts" and increased health risks for local residents occur as a result of mountaintop mining. In an article in journal Science, scientists are calling for a stop in issuing of new mountaintop mining permits.

I first learned about mountain-top removal mining in Orion, a magazine I subscribe to. According to the article Moving Mountains, tops of mountains are being blasted away in order to extract coal. Non-coal material that's extracted/blown away, such as forest and soil (including whole ecosystems that inhabit tops of mountains!) are simply dumped into the valleys, burying streams and polluting water sources. This practice also increases the occurance of flooding and mudslides, leaving residents of nearby vulnerable to such "natural" disasters.

Incidentally, I had the opportunity to attend a symposium where one of the co-authors of the article in the journal Science mentioned in the Grist.org blog gave a keynote speech. She was heavily pregnant at the time, and I remember being very pleasantly surprised to see her in the fieldtrip (hiking in a national park in Queensland, Australia) the following day. A true inspiration for me--being pregnant (and having children) does not necessarily need to hinder our professional and personal activities, as well as aspirations! I gave birth to my own daughter June a little over a year after I met this environmental scientist.

As the terrible news of the horrible catastrophe in Haiti floods the media, one cannot help but think, why has the aftermath of the terrible earthquake that hit Haiti on 12 January been as devastating as it has been? Why were there so many deaths--as a result of huge numbers of buildings collapsing, inability of the government to deal with the disaster, already poor people desperate for things to eat?

As was the case after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, it is now, more than ever, necessary to emphasize the social, cultural, and policy-based components that determine the extent of disasters when they strike; natural disasters do not just happen; "socio-natual disaster" are made.

Bébés nageurs

June が７ヶ月になったころから、近くのプールで Bébés nageurs へ通っています。直訳すると「赤ちゃんスイマー」ですが、基本的には、水に慣れさせるための水遊び。お風呂もあまり好きでない June ですが、最近ようやく慣れてきて、水の中で大泣きする回数は減りました。

日本ではオムツが取れないとプールに入れないようですが、フランスでは水中用のオムツが売っています。おしっこは通してしまうようですが、大きいのがもれるのを防ぐようです。

パリでこの Bébés nageurs クラスをいくつかの団体が開催しているようですが、我々が通っているのは、Archimède のです。２人のインストラクター（もう一人、ヘルパーがいます）に対し、４－８グループ（赤ちゃん＋親、両親の場合がほとんど）がいます。プールは３０度前後の温められています。

私は大学卒業するまで競泳をしていいました。June に水泳選手になって欲しいわけではないけれど、水を怖がる子どもにはなって欲しくないと思い、始めました。日曜の朝早く、毎週頑張っています。

ode to my breastpump

You came to my house over a year ago, when I was getting ready to go back to work. You were disguised an a sleek black backpack. Not only did you accompany me on the daily commute on the Paris metro, you even came with me to Turkey and to the US. Yes, two international flights under your belt!

Everyday, you would do your work, 15-20 minutes at a time, sometimes up to three times a day. You worked superbly and efficiently, in my office, at home, and in public toilet stalls. You extracted out of me more than enough for what June needed.

Yes it's true that June did not learn to take the bottle, and much of the milk that you pumped out of my breasts was not consumed by her. However, your played an important role in keeping up my milk supply--and I am eternally grateful to you for that.

I no longer need you, as June is eating enough solids during the day, and now that she is over one year old, she is able to drink cow's milk during the day. The last pumping session was over two months ago, and the last of the frozen milk has now been drunk by June.

Thanks, breastpump. You helped maintain my milk supply , you saved my breasts from engorgement, and you allowed June to take small amounts of milk when I was unable to be with her. I can say with pride that except for the first week of her life in the hospital, June did not have to drink a drop of formula. I have been able to raise her on my breastmilk alone.

Rest your motor in peace.

ステンドグラス 初めての作品

ずいぶん前のことですが、２００９年２月に始めたステンドグラス、５月にようやく終わりました。途中写真を撮らなかったので工程を全て見せることができないのが残念。ガラスを切り終わった後は、やわらかい鉛でできたフレームにガラスをはめていきます。この過程は、どんどん作品ができていくので、とても楽しく早く進むことができました。ここの一番の難関は、「工」の形をしているフレームをきちんと開けて、ガラスを入れること。つなぎめ（フレームとフレーム同士が交差する部分）は特に注意しなければなりません。

右の写真は、この作業に使うツール。
左の写真の真ん中にあるのは、鏡。壁の写真が映ってしまってちょっと見難いですね（ちなみに、壁の写真は全て、このアトリエで作られた作品）。


さて、この作業が終わったら、すべてのつなぎ目をハンダゴテで固定しなければなりません。この工程もかなり大変。「ハンダゴテで作品がきれいになるか醜くなるかが決まる」

と先生に言われ、かなり緊張しました。

これが終わったら、全てをきれいに磨きます。

完了したこの鏡、リビングの窓に飾ることにしました。夕方になると日が入って、とてもきれいです。

さて、次はコーヒーテーブルを作ることにしました。これには曲線もあるので、うまくガラスが切ることができるかが不安です。

あけましておめでとうございます / Happy New Year / Bonne Année 2010

２００９年に釧路湿原でとった、２重の虹です。

２０１０年が皆にとって、よい年になりますように。

This beautiful photo of a double rainbow was taken in Kushiro Wetlands, Hokkaido.

May the year 2010 be filled with happiness, wonder & new discoveries for everyone.