Reaching for the Sky

Katitawa School in the rural indigenous community of Salasaca, Ecuador was an amazing place to visit and work as a volunteer teaching English.

I completed this multimedia production in the two weeks prior to returning home to Canada in May 2013 after spending 5 months in Ecuador. And almost 2 years in South America since 2010.

The video needs no introduction. It speaks for itself. Enjoy!

Click 'Vimeo' to view full screen.  And it was produced in HD so best viewed that way!



'Reaching for the Sky' from Doug Pyper on Vimeo.


To learn more about Escuela Katitawa visit their Website and Blog by clicking on the links below:

http://katitawa-ways-to-help.weebly.com/index.html

http://katitawa.blogspot.ca/

This incredible alternative education school in the central highlands of Ecuador is made possible solely through generous donations of  supporters worldwide. They do not accept contributions from any political or religious institutions thus maintaining the freedom and integrity of their vision and purpose. 

If you are interested in supporting this wonderful project, even small donations are graciously welcomed and can be made through  their website noted above. And if you're motivated and  wish to engage in a volunteer experience of a lifetime, applications are available on the website as well.

 

Food Security in the Modern Global Age.

Local food security may become a survival issue in the very near future. Closer than we all might imagine!

Most of our food here in Canada travels an average of 3000 km. to reach the shelves of the local super markets.

The maintenance and continuance of that scenario depends on fluctuations in management of global food distribution, controlled by huge corporate agri-businesses worldwide and further affected by the availability of diminishing and expensive fossil fuels to provide ongoing transportation of the global food supply.

This sensitive food chain could decline or even crash in the very near future, given the state of the global economy and ongoing political volatility worldwide.

It's continuance is solely based on corporate profit margins, not human need. There is absolutely no consideration given to humanitarian concerns or the survival of humankind in any cultures or countries in our present system.

We in developed counties will suffer the consequences of a crash in the system no less than those in developing countries.

Imagine going to the supermarket and there's no more food on the shelves.

Our food does not come from supermarkets!

Know where your food comes from.....and understand, given the situation, that source may well change or diminish in the very near future.

We must begin again to take at least some responsibility for feeding ourselves. Our global food system is not sustainable, and we must begin to understand that reality and start building some semblance of  local food security for the future.

The following is a multimedia production from a recent panel discussion of food security in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. An area that actually does implement  a certain degree of food security....and it seems there is a growing awareness there of the need for such.

We might all do well to consider the message inherent in this discussion.

Food Security Panel Discussion


from Doug Pyper on Vimeo.


Some 'food' for thought.

Please do offer your comments and thoughts here. It is something we should all be aware of and openly discussing.

 
  Protecting the Sacred. Reclaiming the Power

International Indigenous Leadership Gathering 2012

by Doug Pyper

 

The message of ‘protecting the sacred’ here on mother earth was again the official mantra at the 4^th Annual International Indigenous Leadership Gathering in Lillooet, BC. And with the ominous predictions of 2012 now looming on the horizon there seemed a subliminal sense of urgency in the air.

Dance and Drumming in the Arbour

The event was held June 21-24 hosted by the Sta’at’imc Chiefs Council representing 11 first nations communities in the territory. Over a thousand people from near and far attended, creating a communal village of like minded people of all origins inhabiting an open meadow near the town of Lillooet. Everyone enjoyed the presentations of world renowned speakers and performers from across Turtle Island and South America. As in the past, the event was made possible entirely through the tireless work of volunteers, including both local organizers and attendees. All food was provided free, prepared and served on site as a gift from the nation.

The flow of messages was clear and consistent. We must save mother earth now and renew our spiritual connection with each other and all living things if we are to endure. We are living in a time of irreversible and catastrophic global destruction. Seemingly our planet can no longer take the abuse that modern humankind has relentlessly inflicted upon her. The 2012 scenario offers varied predictions, the most universal being that we are at the end of a great cycle, a 500 year long spiritual winter. A massive painful transformation is coming, and those who are prepared will move onward into a spiritual spring time.

Many of the eclectic mix of speakers this year were more noticeably aligned with mainstream culture, addressing environmental concerns from a scientific and even political perspective. Issues of global warming and loss of biological diversity were paramount, but often transcended the traditional indigenous spiritual vernacular. The frequent direct reference to politics was perhaps an indication that many feel the planet is under siege from corporate controlled global governments, most notably here in Canada under Stephen Harper.

But the inherent message was we are ‘all’ indigenous, and the truth is the truth no matter how it is wrapped. This earth is not for our material gain, it is our responsibility to revere, nurture and sustain it for future generations.

Among the numerous scheduled speakers was the Honourable Stephen Point, the current and only Indigenous Lieutenant Governor in BC history. In his impassioned speech, often tempered with his characteristic humour, he implied the needed change lies within each of us, by discovering our spirituality and overcoming our self-imposed fear and ignorance.

“I believe that our world is coming around to the understanding that we need change” he said.  “In gatherings like this, where people are focused on the spiritual world is how that change begins. Each of us must learn from the many lessons offered to us daily, and apply those lessons in our lives.  This is necessary for growth and to bring about change within ourselves and our world.”

MaObong Oku, a Nigerian spiritual healer, humanitarian and performing artist currently living in Vancouver gave a gentle and inspirational talk. “Mother earth is the source of our existence. Indigenous people are the guardians of the earth. We must strive to keep our hearts clean. The creator can then work through us and guide us”. She warned “Most problems are with the mind. It is often a source of negativity and the sole cause of all our troubles in the world today. When we have good thoughts we manifest a beautiful and peaceful earth. We must be vigilant to keep our thoughts pure through daily practice.”  

Herbert Hammond, a Forest Ecologist from the Slocan Valley in southern BC was one of the non-indigenous speakers at the event. Among a myriad of other accomplishments he has worked extensively with first nations developing eco-system based conservation plans. He believes we have given up much of our power to bring about change in the modern age.

Herb Hammond

“We elect governments believing they will take care of us and solve all our problems. In reality they are often not acting in our interest at all. Similarly, we’ve become dependent on large environmental organizations to protect our biological and physical world. These organizations often have become well paid environmental bureaucracies whose goal is to create a political compromise. In both cases, we do not get the results and changes we need, since the systems are designed for proliferation of the status quo” he stated.

“We can survive 3 to 8 minutes without oxygen, without water for 8 to 14 days and without food for up to 4 weeks” he noted.  “In one year a large tree provides enough oxygen for two people and pumps several hundred gallons of water into the ecosystem. However, we ignore these benefits of healthy ecosystems in pursuit of short term monetary profit that degrade and destroy the natural integrity of our home” he said. 

He went on to explain that our current world view is based on an 'Anthropocentric' ethic. "This ethic holds that ecosystems have little value until they provide resources for monetary profit.  It teaches that the earth was created exclusively for human benefit" he said. "It promotes the necessity of a corporate consumer-based economy to prosper and relies on perpetual economic growth by creating 'artificial needs'. We are pillaging our life support system in this pursuit. Such an approach is clearly not sustainable".

A more appropriate ethic is a Kincentric approach which respects the earth and other living things. What we do to the earth we do to ourselves. "This world view sees us as related to all other life forms. With this understanding we have the responsibility to protect all life forms, while using some of them wisely for our needs." he stated.  

These words perfectly echo what the indigenous elders have taught for centuries through spiritual beliefs, making his thoughts very appropriate and meaningful for the Gathering.



Peace and Dignity Runners from Mexico.

His solution to our current global crisis and devastation our planet is ecosystem-based conservation plans that facilitate sustainable 'community-based economies' around the world. We must become involved on a grass roots community level (whether rural or urban), taking back our power in dignified yet firm ways, while educating each other. We must regress back to a simpler way of living. And we must do so with or without permission and support from our elected governments.

Our future is the responsibility of each and everyone of us. It is time to begin.

 

 

Hoofs and Heroes

Skijoring Comes to the Kootenays
By Doug Pyper

A recent 'Skijoring' event in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia may well have set in motion a new local tradition.

When Diane Kinrade, Program Director for The West Kootenay Therapeutic Riding Association, began brainstorming ideas for a fundraiser it almost seemed like a no brainer.

“I’d been a ski patrol for 15 years, and have been equestrian riding and instructing for 35 years. And I knew all about Skijoring, because I’m Norwegian and the sport originated in my homeland” she says.

What she didn’t realize was this would be the first recorded organized competition of its kind in western Canada.

Equestrian Skijoring is a variation of the canine powered sport, which is widespread in our country, especially as part of regional sled dog competitions. But one must cross the border to places like Montana and Colorado, where ranches and ski resorts share a common turf, to experience the hoofed version of the activity. With few exceptions Skijoring as a competitive sport in Canada has involved dogs, not horses. One such exception is the recently sanctioned NASJA races that began just two years ago at the Quebec Winter Carnival.

The use of horses adds more speed and excitement to the sport. Competitors use downhill skis and snowboards as opposed to Nordic skis used in canine events. And jump ramps, navigating through cones and speed are definitely part of the mix. This high energy contest is geared for those with plenty of fitness and skill mixed with a good measure of madness.




One might question why horse drawn Skijoring didn’t find a home here in the Kootenays years ago. It seems a perfect match. With a well spring of local riders and horses and an indigenous culture of adrenalin driven skiers and snowboarders that hang at Whitewater and Red Mountain Ski Resorts, it should have naturally evolved over time.


Well, it’s here to stay now as of March 11/2012. Plans are already in motion to make this an annual event in Nelson, BC. The Nelson Riding Club arena will be expanded next season to make the existing course longer and lines will be cast to draw competitors from a larger area. Hopes are high to bring the local ski resorts on board as marketing partners.

This inaugural event was rather small and intimate with mostly local entries. And first place honours went to snowboarder Josh Ross (21) pulled by Katarina Burkhardt (18) riding a Palomino quarter horse named 'Latte'. This should spur some friendly rivalry next year from all those on skis!

The WKTRA is a non-profit organization founded in 1999 whose purpose is to help challenged individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Diane Kinrade, who is also a registered nurse, explains “We offer a physical rehabilitation program, a mental health therapy program and a sport recreation program. We put people in the saddle and give them a program to help meet the challenges in their life”.

The fundraising from this event will help, over the years, to fulfill a dream of building an indoor riding arena for the WKTRA. Donations to the cause are welcomed at http://www.kootenayridingtherapy.org/

View 40 more images of this very special event here:http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/gallery/Skijoring-Nelson-BC/G0000aPYm9anUnOM/

The Lesson of Bolivia

Travelling through South America for seven months last year really opened my eyes to the true meaning of the words “developing nation”. I had always thought it meant a country on its way to prosperity because the global economy had finally arrived and was the sole solution to all their former woes. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

That promotes the idea that a high material standard of living and rampant consumerism is the ultimate goal of any society. And I now understand that the mere presence of consumer-based corporations within any country, in no way reduces poverty nor addresses any real social needs. Indeed it creates a myriad of other problems, most notably 'out of control' pollution from plastic packaging (i.e garbage).

Cholitas sell anything they can on the streets of La Paz. Bolivia is the poorest (and highest) country in the western Hemisphere. Copyright Doug Pyper

Mega-corporations like Coca Cola and Nestle are strangling our planet with packaged consumer goods and are now making these products available to the poorest of the poor in South America at prices they can afford. These corporations in no way provide any subsistence or a better quality of life for the common people...unless you consider an impoverished vendor selling Coke in a bus terminal or by roadside in the middle of nowhere as meaningful employment.

Indigenous roadside vendor selling plastic east of La Paz, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

In developed countries we've become experts at hiding this petrochemical disaster in our land fills and to some extent with recycling programs. However, these so-called solutions are all but non-existent in South America especially in rural areas, small towns and the fringes of large cities. These people have existed for centuries (albeit with great hardship) on biodegradable natural foods and livestock. They could throw their garbage on the ground and it would go away. It is no longer so, and they are now being buried in their own plastic refuge…with no apparent solution.

It was disheartening to travel throughout Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia and witness this corporate born disaster. Garbage is everywhere! What’s worse is, whenever possible it is discarded into the few watersheds that do exist. Seems as humans we all harbour an inborn misconception that if you put something in any form of flowing water it will go away. In very dry countries like Bolivia this is nothing short of catastrophic. Western Bolivia is mostly high dry desert known as the "Altiplano". At 4000 meters above sea level there is little water at all.

The garbage landscape across rural Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Fortunately it seems there is a growing awareness of the issue. It was heartwarming and inspirational to witness an “Environment Day” in the tiny village of Samaipata in eastern Bolivia. Children and educators filled the small central square to celebrate the salvation of our the planet. One would suspect that this type of education is prevalent in Bolivia, if it exists in such a remote location as this. But more importantly, it begs the question…how much are we doing to educate our own children on issues of global survival and environmental issues here in North America.

Additional photos here: http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/gallery/Samaipata-Bolivia/G0000H50KL4nU6fk


Poster at children's environment event in Samaipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Child at environmental awareness day in Samipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Children with their artwork at environmental awareness day in Samaipata, Bolivia. Copyright Doug Pyper.

Respected Nigerian author Ben Okri wrote: “Childhood is the father and mother of humanity. If you want to understand a nation study the way it treats its children, the way it educates them, the way it moulds them”.

And with regard to life in so-called developed nations Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano penned “Almost everywhere growing up has come to mark the start of a deadly race to consume at all costs. It often begins nearer to infancy than it should and for the most part it means submitting to the dismal regulation of joyless work”

Perhaps we should all rethink our often arrogant life view. The people in the countries I visited with few exceptions were full of joy despite their hardships….something I see much less of in my own country Canada. It was a personal wakening for me.

Recently Bolivia is taking a leading role on environmental issues in South America and on the world stage. As one of the foremost victims of climate change it is essential to their survival.

They are in the process of passing La Ley De la Madre Tierra (The Law of Mother Earth), which would give nature similar rights as those granted to human beings. And in July 2010 a resolution was brought forth by Bolivia to the UN General Assembly declaring access to clean drinking water and sanitation a human right. It was was unanimously passed with 122 countries voting in favour. Canada represented by Stephen Harper refused to sign this declaration. All Canadians should be made aware of this travesty in our name.

And perhaps globally we can all learn a lesson from Boliva's model and follow their ideologies for continued existence here in the fragile hands of mother earth.

The Final Fight for Jumbo Wild is Now!

Copyright Doug Pyper

For over twenty years the people of the Kootenays have fought diligently in opposition to the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort...and for good reason. In reality it is merely a real estate development based on building a ski resort and resort municipality on a shrinking glacier in the pristine wilderness of the Purcell Mountains for the internationally wealthy.

Countless studies and public opinion polls have shown over and over again that this proposal is not viable environmentally or economically for our region. Yet it seems there are powers and a current provincial government agenda that want to move this project forward nonetheless.

After twenty long years of opposition by people of this region, some recently elected MLA by the name of Steve Thomson (Minister of Natural Resource Operations) from Kelowna, will soon make the final and sole decision on this contentious issue. He was elected in 2009 and immediately appointed as Minister (his background...long time orchard owner and recent president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce)...to quote a common phrase "no experience or knowledge necessary." How totally bazaar and ridiculously undemocratic!

Given the overall climate toward selling out our resources and our natural heritage by the current government there is little question what his decision will be.

I hope the 'white shirt and tie' from Kelowna' and his BC LIEberal government are prepared to meet head on with the people of the Kootenays. It'll be a war in the mountains for sure and it's best they understand the dedication, beliefs and willingness to battle oppression that is, and always has been, the nature of Kootenay people.

I would like to include two wonderful videos here.

The first by my friend and filmmaker Kevin Shepit from Kimberley, BC (and amazing documentary) and another by Miriam Needoba (Small Town Films, Nelson BC) who documented the recent Jumbo Wild Rally in Nelson.

If you need a refresher on the whole issue these two video productions combined will provide it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHn0YRke7Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5lCZ0-hfNA

Send emails with your concerns and comments to: steve.thomson.mla@leg.bc.ca

Keep Jumbo Wild !!!

Kudos from Children International

I recently did a photo assignment for the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Children International in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Here are their comments on my work. Its not often one makes a lot of money in this profession, so it is nice to get few appreciative strokes once in a while.

"Doug is a gifted and accomplished photographer! Excellent eye for drama, humanity, and the world in which we live. And it’s evident from his images that he has an aptitude for communicating emotionally with children of all cultures.

He made things easy for us, by understanding the project, taking charge once he hits the ground, and getting it all done on time with incredible results.

Children International will be using his Ecuador images for years to come, because they capture perfectly the real lives of the people we help. No qualms about recommending him to anyone or any organization".

Scott Cotter

Communications Director

Children International

Global NGO

Children in the slums of Quito, Ecuador. Copyright Doug Pyper

Scroll down to previous post for more on the project and a link to image gallery.

Poverty in Quito, Ecuador

Copyright Doug Pyper

The amount of poverty that exists across South America is almost unimaginable to someone from an affluent society.

Driven by powerful cultural beliefs and the emotional rewards of family life, along with largely Roman Catholic values, most couples have many children very early in life. In most cases, any sort of economic stability is only a minor consideration. They will choose love and family over monetary wealth always and will labour relentlessly any way they can to sustain it . An idea that we in North American society might give some thought to, where more often than not, these values succumb to rampart consumerism and the pursuit of physical comforts.

Unfortunately, the economic reality in South America is that many children go hungry....and needless to say, necessary health care is rarely accessible in this struggle to survive.

Copyright Doug Pyper

The people of Ecuador are a pure joy! They are happy, content, friendly, respectful, accepting of each other and deeply dedicated to family...it is their nature. Truly, this is what fuels my love for this country. It saddens me that children go hungry here as they do elsewhere in the world.

I very recently completed an assignment for Children International. We visited three families in the one of the poorest areas of the city of Quito, Ecuador.

Here is a selection of images from that shoot. Viewable as slideshow:

http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/gallery/Children-International-Quito-Ecuador/G0000utqVtRS4LH0

Please feel free to leave your comments on child poverty in South America and worldwide.

Threats to Indigenous People of Colombia.

My friend Anna Rose recently wrote this letter to the president of Colombia. It was delivered by postal mail. She states well the horrific situation transpiring there and the concerns we all should have about this and similar situations around the world.


10 December 2010


Señor Presidente Juan Manuel Santos
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No. 7-26
Bogotá, Colombia

Dear President Santos,

I am a health professional living in Canada. I am enjoying learning Spanish, but I am not up to writing much in it, yet. I am writing because of my concern with the multiple threats to the indigenous nations within Colombia. I first became aware of some specific instances of violence against indigenous villages when I read a book last year by a Latin American journalist. In presenting cases for letter-writing in their annual Write for Rights Day this year, Amnesty International has given more examples and confirmed that the protection given by the Colombian Government to the peoples and their lands is inadequate. Colombia is signatory to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which clearly outlines the protection of and assistance to indigenous people which each State must work towards.

Please
- commence an impartial and exhaustive investigation into the death threats issued to the leaders of the Consejo Regional Indígena del Cauca by las Aguilas Negras
- bring the perpetrators to justice promptly
- implement fully Constitutional Court Ruling 004 of January 2009 which lays out
effective protection measures

As affirmed in the UN Declaration, “all peoples contribute to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind.” I am told there are at least 32 indigenous nations in danger of extinction in Colombia. It would be everybody’s loss if even one nation vanished due to paramilitary violence, forced eviction from their lands by developers, and lack of protection against these threats by your government.



Respectfully,


Anna Rose
Box 115, Gray Creek, BC
Canada V0B 1S0

c.c. Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Finally Some Photos!

Finally some photos of Bolivia!!

I’m chilling out in Banos, Ecuador right now. It’s my favourite little town in all of South America, tucked away in the lush green eastern Andes Mountains. The pace of my recent travels through Bolivia (for five weeks) was near frantic, followed by a four day race across Peru that was exhausting. Spare time was virtually non-existent.

I’ve been in Banos for a week now and have finally found time to edit and upload to my website some images from Bolivia. You’ll find a collection of twelve separate galleries from different locations in the country.

I had written a blog post about my travels in Bolivia, but lost it in a copy/paste operation. Bummer! I decided it was too much work to re-write it.

The images themselves will tell the story to a great degree. They are all fully captioned and the “descriptive text” introducing each gallery is probably more informative than the blog post I lost. It offers some detailed background on each of the image galleries and my personal point of view on experiences, locations and issues.

The very best way to view image galleries is SLIDESHOW MODE. Better yet: pause the slideshow and use arrows to navigate at leisure back and forth through each gallery.

Here’s the link. Enjoy! Viewable as Slideshow:

http://dougpyper.photoshelter.com/package-show/Bolivia-12-Galleries/P00000Ngqu5q_p3c

Hope to start doing stories regularly now that things have slowed down little. Keep checking back if you like.

Looking forward to Christmas in Banos!

Location of my Blog Title image?

The image currently at the top of Blog is my friend Anna Rose on the banks of Howser Creek in the Purcell Mountains north of Kootenay Lake, British Columbia. (Copyright Doug Pyper)


This pristine glacial-fed creek is currently under threat from independent power producers . The plan currently under review by the BC government would divert the creek into a huge tunnel to a power generating station leaving the creek bed dry forever.


A similar plight faces of thousands of creeks and rivers across our province under the recent BC Energy Plan legislation. A frightening situation which puts the future of British Columbia and our beautiful natural resources at risk.

Find out more here: http://www.ourrivers.ca/

Website Changes, Fresh Blog and New Directions

It’s been a while since I’ve posted to my Blog. Actually more than a while..…my last post was on returning from Ecuador last March. I must apologize for my lack of enthusiasm in this regard.

I’m now looking at renewed focus on publishing, and promise to deliver on a regular basis. Though not the reason to begin blogging again, returning to and spending the next three months in South America will certainly be a major stimulant. I’m in no way planning a generic travel blog, although I’m sure the new surroundings will give birth to much inspiration. I will be travelling throughout Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

I envision my ‘new’ blog as multi-faceted, focusing on stories and images from near and far. It is my goal to create engaging photojournalism, showcasing creative images and expressing my thoughts and opinions on all things including environmental issues, regional and international culture, people, politics and the art and craft of photography in general. Hope to make it all informative, enlightening and an enjoyable read. Not to mention (of course) sharing my images on a regular basis. I will be posting links to my website image galleries and multimedia productions on a regular basis.

I had a great summer, during which I began thinking about how things are changing in the photography world and for me personally as a photographer. Recent changes to my website pretty much sum up where I’m heading with in my profession and my personal life…which are virtually inseparable. What’s new and exciting and what I’m leaving behind in some respects is due to the changes resulting from the digital age on this profession ….some things just don’t work anymore. One example is marketing stock photography globally through agencies. However, marketing stock images to local and regional clients seems as good as ever, if not better. In other respects changes are just a result of artistic growth, which seems to be drawing me in some new and exciting directions.

I have removed marketing “wedding photography” from my website entirely. I will continue to take some bookings and I do enjoy it, but quite frankly I find it (the business) all a bit of a circus these days with the advent of the digital camera…something I prefer not be associated with anymore.

As always my commercial work will continue, but my past focus on editorial, cultural and multimedia has blossomed into a major passion recently. I am equally excited about increased world travel and associated assignments and projects.

In my travels to South America this winter I will be engaging (along with other work) in a few assignments for NGO’s including a shoot for Children International in Ecuador. Very inspiring given my love for photographing children.

Hope you all had a chance to view my new image galleries from the past year on my website Portfolio page. Particularly special to me is the gallery “The Children of Ecuador” All galleries are viewable as slideshow. Check it out!

I have recently become a member of the International Guild of Visual Peacemakers….a very inspiring organization of humanitarian and cultural photographers. I have been a member of the Editorial Photographers of Canada for years. Both are now linked on my homepage.

Please visit my website to see the somewhat new look (changes) and check out images in my Portfolio from the past year if you haven’t been there for a while.

I’ll post about my upcoming trip to South America soon. Leaving in five days!!!

http://www.dougpyperphoto.com/

Doug

From Baños Ecuador

Sorry folks! I didn´t deliver the stories of my travels I promised on leaving Canada my last blog post in November.

Seems I´ve been just too busy to write......but my camera has rarely been idle. It became my means of communication with these wonderful Ecuadorian people as I struggled to improve my Spanish. I have included a link to a collection of 19 photo galleries below. The images leave no doubt about the willingness of these incredible people to share their hearts and souls with a stranger, and the joy that they felt in someone taking an interest in their lives is evident......especially with the children. In all reality, what I did here in Ecuador as a photographer would not be possible in Canada or many other places in the world for that matter.

I came to Ecuador to experience its geographical diversity so to speak. To explore a small country about the size of Colorado that seemingly had everything South America had to offer in one compact little package.

That was over three and a half months ago. I´ve since travelled thousands of kilometers back and forth across this precious land. From a journey down a jungle river in the upper Amazon basin to the warm blue surf of the Pacific Ocean.

And I have traversed and lived in the mesmerizing central highlands of the Andes Mountains that separate the two.

I´ve shared ramshackle buses with indigenous people winding their way from pueblo to pueblo on roads clinging to the sides of 20,000 ft peaks along heart stopping ledges. This made all the more surreal by the crates of live chickens on the roof and the resounding joyous rhythm of Latin American music....ever present on the buses of Ecuador.

I have lived on three separate occasions in Baños, a vibrant yet mellow little town, nestled beneath steep green slopes in the shadow of the active Volcano Tungurahua. The population was evacuated in 2000 during the most recent major eruption. It is a place I´ve come to feel as a home away from home and returned here often during my travels to chill-out. Strangely, it has a certain Kootenays feel to it.

This land has fulfilled all my expectations. But it is not a memory of a place I´ll bring home, but that of a people.

Ecuadorians are extremely poor for the most part, especially in rural areas and small towns. Yet they have a natural sense of earthy dignity, joy and love for each other that is rarely seen in North America.

That joy is in their eyes to see and in the melodic voices of their children to hear. They have given me a new way to look at life and at myself. It is this gift from these very special people that I bring home with me in my heart.

And before I leave I will re-visit a small indigenous village high in the western Andes called Chugchilan. In some almost mystical way it completely defined Ecuador for me.

"Yo cambio atra ves la montaña senderos de Chugchilan"

"I walk again the mountain paths of Chugchilan"


Hasta Luego Mis Amigos en Ecuador!

I take a part of you home with me, and leave a huge part of myself here with you. I will return soon!

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Click Here
For Gallery Collection: THE PEOPLE OF ECUADOR

Then click on each desired gallery to view. Galleries best viewed in Slideshow Mode!

Off to Ecuador

When autumn falls on the West Kootenay my thoughts usually drift from a seemingly endless summer to anticipation of the bottomless snow that will soon blanket the amazing Selkirk Mountains. And I dream of fresh days of deep powder skiing and think of friends with whom I share the winter.

But this year it's south to Ecuador and the Andes Mountains, the warm South Pacific coast and remote rivers of the Amazon Jungle. Lost in the excitement and promise of a new adventure, it's almost odd that I feel a soothing voice deep within me. It quietly assures me that these special mountains and the shores of Kootenay Lake is where I belong, and offers me the comfort of knowing that I will always return to my beautiful homeland.

Copyright Doug Pyper

Copyright Doug Pyper

My next post will be from Quito, Ecuador in about ten days. I'll be posting regularly from South America with all kinds of stories and photos.

So keep checkin' in.

BC for Sale

In my opinion this is one of the most important and well done films of the decade about British Columbia.

Twyla Roscovich produced this a few months before the last provincial election to enlighten and forewarn British Columbians of the inherent outcome of another four years Gordon Campbell. She called it the election film. Upon viewing it you will undoubtedly be struck with apprehension. This video outlined what Campbell would do if re-elected. He presently has that mandate.

It unfortunately now outlines what he is currently implementing (mostly in backroom deals) as he begins his four year tenure of sell-out and destruction. It makes this "election film" more relevant than ever, calling us all to action to stop this corrupt, corporately controlled government from totally selling out and devastating our beautiful province in the next few years.

I hope the film inspires all us to fight for the preservation of our province until the next election. Thanks so much for this Twyla, we will all take heed!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS INSPIRING VIDEO TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LOVE.

And visit Twyla's great website CALLING FROM THE COAST

CLICK ON THE FOUR ARROW ICON IN THE LOWER RIGHT TO VIEW FULL SCREEN.

BC for Sale from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.

Death by Plastic

What are we doing to ourselves, our planet and the blameless creatures who share it with us?

It seems we are hopelessly addicted to plastic. Virtually every manufactured product is made of it. We don't give it a second thought, all in the name of convenience. A throw away society!

Since the 1950s, over one billion tons of plastic has been created AND EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC EVER MADE IS STILL HERE WITH US. With growing world population and more developing countries production is on a staggering increase.

Our landfills are full of it, and so is the Pacific Ocean. The "North Pacific Gyre" also known as "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is a plastic soup twice the size of Texas.

This three minute video tells of this catastrophic situation. After viewing it will offer you a selection of 15 more related videos to watch if you so desire.

CLICK ON THE RECTANGLE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER TO VIEW FULL SCREEN.

On Midway Island on the north end of the Hawaiian Island chain thousands of Laysan Albatross young die every year. The adults fly out over the North Pacific Gyre to fill their gullets with food, but instead return with a cargo of plastic to feed their chicks. A picture's worth a thousand words. CHECK OUT THESE DISTURBING IMAGES.

You can learn all about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch HERE.

Question is, what can we do about it?

Vanishing Rainbows

This is a short multimedia video (9 minutes) on the proposed independent power project (IPP) currently threatening Glacier and Howser Creeks in the West Kootenay region of BC. I shot and produced this about a year ago, and it screened at the Fliks Canadian Film Festival in Nelson last February.

It addresses the potential loss of these pristine watersheds to Axor Corporation of Montreal and the injustice facing the two sole residents of the valley. The Grabowskys stand to lose their water, their simple mountain lifestyle and their small horse ranch at the hands of the Campbell government and the corporations that he feeds. Sadly it's a familiar scenario worldwide!

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P.S. Have heard some people are experiencing "jerky playback" of this video. I would appreciate anyone experiencing this contacting me by email. It may be just an individual computer issue or a major streaming issue from Vimeo (in which case I'd like to resolve it). Thanks. Doug

CLICK ON SMALL ICON WITH ARROWS IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER TO ENABLE FULL SCREEN VIEW

Vanishing Rainbows from Doug Pyper on Vimeo.

A Thought to Consider

With summer waning our spirit and energy often tend to lose momentum as the warm sun disappears. Here's a beautiful thought to embrace.


Look to this day,
For it is life.
The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all
The realities and verities of existence.
The bliss of growth,
The splendor of action,
The glory of power---

For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision,
But today, well lived
Makes every yesterday a dream
of happiness
And every tomorrow is a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day

Sanskrit Proverb

Pics of the Week

Autumn in the Kootenays

Memories of Summer Near Slocan Lake

It's Not Easy Bein' Green..... Or Is It?

Well perhaps not for Kermit the Frog, but seems its a piece of cake for Gordon Campbell.

Do wonders never cease? Gordo just returned from the 2009 Governors’ Climate Summit in California held September 30 to October 02. This corporate puppet a.k.a. our duly elected dictator, continues to portray himself as organic green. It’s nothing short of astounding!

Here’s a clip from a recent press release by the Office of the Premier:

LOS ANGELES – Premier Gordon Campbell signed the 2009 Governors’ Climate Summit Declaration on behalf of British Columbia, committing the Province to work co-operatively with all levels of government around the world to combat climate change.

“Climate change is a challenge on an unprecedented scale and calls for an unprecedented level of co-operation between governments at all levels – national, state, provincial and municipal,” said Premier Campbell. “This declaration reaffirms our commitment to work collaboratively with other jurisdictions around the world, even as we take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within our own province. I want to thank California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and all host governors for giving a voice to sub-national governments on this important issue.”

YOU GOT THAT FOLKS? NOW HERE'S THE REALITY OF THE GORDON CAMPBELL AGENDA:

This government is actively supporting and promoting the Northern Gateway Enbridge Pipeline across northern BC that will carry dirty Alberta Tar Sands oil to a proposed oil tanker port at Kitimat (snuffing a 30-year moratorium on coastal tanker traffic) that protected us from oil spills similar to the Exxon Valdez. This will allow a 50% increase in production from the Tar Sands, the biggest contributor to GHG emissions in Canada, and considered the most destructive project on the planet.

BC is currently one of the largest exporters of coal, providing carbon emitting fuel for power plants and steel production in Japan and South Korea. (now possibly including the new proposed Vancouver Island mine). Is this “working with governments around the world to combat climate change”? A little hard to swallow!

The lower mainland Gateway Project will produce more urban sprawl and build freeways gobbling up food producing Fraser Valley farmland while massively increasing single vehicle freeway traffic and consequently GHG emissions, instead of opting for increased rapid transit initiatives.

Gordon Campbell and the Fiberals blatantly promote off shore oil exploration and development and have provided 1.5 billion dollars in subsidies to oil and gas companies. That’s your tax dollars by the way! Green Initiatives???

And this government is in full support of coal-bed Methane gas exploration by British Petroleum (BP) in the pristine Flathead Valley of southeastern BC, an area that many foresaw as a future National Park.

It’s goes on and on.....there's no end in sight!!!

THESE GUYS ARE NOT GREEN AND THEY’VE GOT CONTROL OUR PROVINCE BY THE BALLS!!

The Terminator and the Corporator

Photo Courtesy of Gordo's Public Affairs Bureau

I can honestly say I never really envisioned my blog as engaging in political commentary. My sole concerns at the root have always been “close to the heart” environmental issues. However, it seems inevitable that when addressing environmental issues you're drawn into the realm of political discourse, unavoidably when you share a province with the likes of Gordon Campbell and Co.

Quite frankly, politics makes me very weary, being foreign to my generally peaceful state of mind. I'd say I have a sort of “respectful disdain” for most politicians. An oxymoron perhaps, but I do reluctantly accept politics as a necessary evil in running the affairs of the human race. I even believe a rare few are actually there to serve.

But seriously, one cannot responsibly ignore Gordon Campbell. It’s not so much a crime that he’s selling himself and his political and corporate cohorts as green. That’s mere hypocrisy. The real crime is that the people of British Columbia buy into this gigantic lie. It’s tragic.....we’re being robbed of our geographic and natural heritage and ultimately our future. We follow like lambs to the slaughter as he gives away our province to corporate interests and the global new world order.

HOW DOES HE DO ALL THIS? Well, seemingly a bullet proof image (until recently) provided by his Public Affairs Bureau along with the "conscience soothing" carbon tax was all he needed. Meanwhile the corporately “dominated” mainstream media hailed him as a veritable “little green leprechaun”. Add to the scenario an NDP Party that offered no real alternative vision (and still doesn’t) and you've got a bogus carbon tax and a government seen in the eyes of the public as a panacea for climate change.

Sorry folks, but the buck stops with us. Let’s be realistic...with greatly fluctuating fuel prices the carbon tax isn't even noticed at the pumps, and statistics reflect that fact.

FUEL CONSUMPTION HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CARBON TAX. Further, those in rural British Columbia who often use their vehicles because they have to, not because they want to, are screwed by this ‘green wash’ political tactic. The big polluters...including the oil and gas companies.....yes they pay, but it’s returned to them in generous subsidies (as noted 1.5 billion dollars in subsidies) to keep them at work devastating our planet for personal gain, squeezing the last fossil fuels out of mother earth here in BC and Alberta.

There are alternatives to the Campbell's ineffective CT and numerous avenues to pursue for reducing GHG emmissions here in BC and worldwide. Increasing rapid transit, promoting car and ride sharing, curtailing the auto industry from further production and promotion of unnecessarily large gas guzzling consumer vehicles and above all putting the 'cuffs' on large industrial polluters. Numero Uno...immediate scaling down of the "Canadian" Tar Sands.

I could go on forever. Enough said! Let’s get rid of this white collar criminal before the next election (there are democratic options). It’s really up to us folks.....together we can toss out this arrogant crook through recall or a general strike! The Americans got rid of Nixon.....we can do the same with Gordo!!!