In this blog, I share stories, photos and info from my bicycle trips which include Washington, DC to Chiapas, Mexico; DC to NYC and back; DC to Pittsburgh; Austin, TX to Brownsville, TX; and currently, Cancun, Mexico to Natal, Brasil.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE!
About two hundred other activists will plunge into the Bay with me, and another two hundred supporters will hold towels and hot chocolate bayside to hand to plungers when they come out. Elected officials and media will be present tomorrow.
If you would like to contribute to my plunge, visit the plunge page. My name is PJ Park and my email is pauljosephpark at gmail dot com. Thank you for your support of an excellent non-profit making a real difference in climate policy in our region and nation through grassroots organization.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Vision
Energy Efficiency: CFL's, Efficient Refridgerators, Efficient Vehicles, Efficient Washers and Driers, Geothermal Pumps, tankless water heaters, solar water heaters
Energy Conservation: Walking, cycling as transportation, turning off lights and appliances, turning down the thermostat, programmable thermostat, programmable lights, sensors for HVAC systems,
Renewable energy: Wind, Solar, Biodiesel made from waste oil or efficient crops/algae, Ethanol made from cellulose materials/switchgrass, geothermal, sustainable hydropower, Solar water heaters, solar air heaters, local organic crops as human power,
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
PowerShift was Awesome!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
New Climate Bill: America's Climate Security Act (ACSA)
Friday, October 12, 2007
Launching Climate Save!
In part to raise funds for continuing the trip, I have launched a new business of selling PowerCost Monitors that allow you to monitor your home's or business's electricity consumption in real time. For example, before you leave the house, you can see how much your house is still consuming even when you are not going to be there! and then you can go around turning off unnecessary appliances reducing your impact on the climate--saving it and some change:) To buy a powercost monitor from me, please email me (pauljosephpark at gmail dot com).
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Friday, October 05, 2007
Operation: Climate Vote
Monday, October 01, 2007
Okay, lets be hopeful, wind power, solar power, conservation, energy efficiency, energy efficient appliances, lights, cars, using less, (having fewer babies?), sustainably-harvested bio-fuels, people changing their lifestyles (living closer to work, living in smaller quarters, putting up insulation, getting efficient refridgerators, etc.)--all this is going to add up to fewer emissions, and enough fewer emissions that we will avoid disastrous, catastrophic climate change.
Okay, or we need to do EVERYTHING(?) we can--personal, culturally, socially, politically--on all levels--household, workplace, community, municipal, county, state, regional, federal, international, private and public, with our actions and our dollars, to promote energy conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy--then we will solve this crisis.
Maybe we need mass demonstrations in the streets, which we have had and they are getting bigger. Maybe we need a carbon tax, and then the revenue raised can be used for energy conservation, efficiency and renewables initiatives. Maybe we need cap-and-trade, auctioning off the allowances and use those funds for conservation, efficiency and renewables measures. We gotta do something big, and we have to do it now--we only have one chance. And we need everybody.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Global Warming and Climate Change news coming through my channel: Let's get Political!
In my world, based on the news I read in the Post, on other online news sources, through my contacts, environmental organizations, etc: the world and the US need to act together in concert ASAP; we are in a race against time, against Global Warming. We are behind, and we need to catch up as fast as possible.
In my view, individuals can only do so much. One individual by changing their lifestyle cannot change the world and stop climate change. Coal-fired power plants are not the acts of individuals. Mass agriculture is not the act of individuals. The market must be spoken to; we need to give the market the input that carbon generation is not desirable, and carbon reduction IS desirable. The problem is so systematic, and we need change so fast, only government intervention can dictate to the market what we need to have changed. Thus, we need to be spending the energy that we would be using on trying to change our own lives on telling our representatives how much we need them to support the carbon-reduction strategies we need now.
Step It Up 2007 steps it up again on November 3rd when we are going to have rallies all over the country at locations where movers and shakers in our nation's history are commemorated, and we are inviting politicians of all levels, and asking them to be leaders on this issue. We need large marches demanding change on this singularly important issue. One sky, one chance. CARPE DIEM
Monday, September 24, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
washingtonpost.com/climate
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Carpoolworld.com!
We (my family: parents and brothers) are working on a way to get my brother Timmy from home to Anne Arundel Community College and back three days a week. The school is near Anapolis, 25 miles away in Arnold, MD. We have come across a great site that everyone ought to know about and use more often: It is called Car Pool World! Someone contacted me with this site while I was on my bicycle trip. You can post your trip, starting and ending points, departure times, and then you can request drivers or passengers! You can specify how much leeway you wish to allow--how far out of the way you are willing to catch a ride or pick up a passenger. This tool can be of great value in helping us consolidate our traffic, reducing congestion and fuel consumption. Please try it out
! The more people we have using it, easier it will be to find a ride for Timmy (and anyone else looking for one)!
Monday, September 17, 2007
A carbon tax would be good; cap and trade much better
Saturday, September 15, 2007
My quote of the day
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Legislation in Congress
Among the bills that could jumpstart the needed emissions cuts are:
In the Senate:
* Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act (CSIA) - S.280
* Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act – S.309
In the House of Representatives:
* Olver-Gilchrest Climate Stewardship Act - H.R.620
* The Waxman Safe Climate Act - H.R.1590
Please sign petition here.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Big Legal Victory: On the way to Cleaner Cars!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Climate Emergency Fast
I joined over a thousand climate activists around the country and the world in a fast on the first day the Congress is back in session to demand three things. One, a moratorium on any new coal-fired power plants; two, a freeze on greenhouse-gas emissions and a move to reduce them; and three, a downpayment of $25 billion for energy conservation, efficiency, and renewables development. While I visited an artisan of carbon-free vehicles, Bilenky, other fasters gathered on the Capitol Lawn to present their demands to the Congress. For more on the fast, see US Climate Emergency Council.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Undoit Petition jumped to 815,000 signatories!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
P.J. Visits Cumberland, by Amy Shuman
At age 26, P.J. is training to bike to Brazil, all the while spreading global warming solutions by "walking the walk," so to speak, traveling in what he terms an "eco friendly fashion."
Having graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio with a bachelor of arts in Environmental Studies, he searched his heart to discover what his next steps were. "This is the Green Millennium," he explains. "My generation has to be the greenest yet!"
Why Brazil? "I wanted to return to Rio Grande do Norte, where, in 1999, I worked through Amigos de las Americas, a community service agency, similar to what a 'Peace Corps for teen-agers' would be like," he said. He credits his early years in Boy Scouts with giving him the skills to survive in all types of environments and with his love of biking.
He decided that his most important impact might come from helping to promote U.S. legislation that would eventually lead to a worldwide agreement of developing and developed countries for saving the planet "I could have allowed the enormity of it all stop me. It's so big, what can I do?" he thought. Then, through research and contemplation, he happened on The Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 and said, "Everyone needs to know about this!"
Through his website biketobrazil.blogspot.com, P.J. shares much of his philosophy and photos of his travels. He is visualizing other bikers joining him for the Brazil trek and sponsorships to assist with supplies.
As P.J. left the Shumans, Amy asked that John's and her love and peace would remain with him and go out to all the world. P.J. got on his bike, turned and smiled, "And I carry it!!"
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Become part of the Solution!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
135 miles into the trip
The trip has been wonderful so far; beautiful segments, fun people I've met along the trail. I have many wonderful photos to upload, but that will have to wait until I get more than a few minutes on the internet.
I camped out one night, then the next night I met some Brazilians in Shepherdstown, WV who invited me to spend the night after they found out I speak Portuguese and lived in a town (Natal) very close to where they are from (Joao Pessoa).
Tonight I will camp out again. On the trail, I met some folks from Pittsburgh biking to DC who will be coming back to Pittsburgh for the BikeBike! Conference party on Saturday night! I also met a Boy Scout troop--31 scouts and 29 adults! from near Lowell, MA. One had a flat and I helped him fix it. When I told them I was a Boy Scout, everything changed. They were very happy to see the skills I learned in scouting being put to work for them, and the leaders were thankful for the chance for their scouts to learn how to patch a tire. To all you scouts: It was great meeting you all, I hope you have a great rest of the trip to DC, and keep plugging along the trail to Eagle!
Along my trip to Pittsburgh, I hear that the major climb will be from Cumberland past Frostburg to the Big Savage Tunnel, where you climb 1600 feet in 22 miles. After that, it is a gradual downhill to Pittsburgh! I'm exited:) So stay tuned for a slide show, and more from the C and O Canal Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage Trail.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Biking to Pittsburgh
I hope to raise awareness of the international climate negotiations coming up that Bush is trying to sabatoge--MoveOn.org and Avaaz.org, an international grass-roots organization, are working together to create a powerful media blitz in the areas where Bush will be meeting, phone call blitzes and other mass actions to demonstrate to widespread international support for immediate climate action. This will overwhelm Bush's special interest efforts. To donate to that cause and have your donation be matched, click here. This really is an international cause and will require international cooperation.
I will be blogging on my ride to Pittsburgh. I will learn more about community and non-profit bike shops and projects, get new ideas on how they run, and make important contacts--including developing relationships with other DC area community bike projects. If you would like to join me for the ride, or come to the conference, please email me at pauljosephpark at gmail.com
Monday, July 09, 2007
Power Cost Monitor
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
John Petersen - Energy Monitoring
This is a video of my advisor at Oberlin College talking about energy monitoring, which I think is a very powerful element in the work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions because of the feedback effect.
Paris to Provide Rentable Bikes Every 900 Feet
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Arrived in Philly; Next leg to Abingdon, MD
The rest of the ride to Philly was pretty straight forward, except that my chain broke and I fixed it with some spare links I was carrying. It's been a fairly warm and sweaty day. I drank lots of water, rested a few times and had trail mix made by sweetheart Laina. Some kid at the Pizza joint I stopped at came in with a skinned knee from biking, and I gave him some neosporin and a bandaid.
In Philly, I came to the Crown Plaza Hotel, where I came last time, and my friends here put my bike in the storage while I snack and update my blog. Pics from the ride coming. Next I will ride to Abingdon, MD to meet up with Brazilian Tina who would like to go on a little bike ride around Bel Air with me and host me a night. Her husband is a serious biker, but she is just getting into it. She found my website when she was searching online for a riding group in Abingdon. Route to her house: click here
Working out my sleeping situation for tonight... Until next time, PJ
Sunday, July 01, 2007
First leg of today's route: Manhattan to Nutley, NJ
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tim Harvey Profile
This is Tim Harvey, who made it around the planet without burning fossil fuels. He biked through some of the same territory we will bike through, and some of his perspective is similar to mine and has bearing on our trip. Particularly, how the world is not necessarily as scary as we are led to believe. What is really cool, also, is that it is possible to row or sail across the Atlantic Ocean.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Choice way of getting to work! The Bike Bus
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Four Principles for Successful Climate Policy
here.
New York City, Zoo
Friday, June 22, 2007
Bronx Zoo, Friends
Solar Panels on your house for Free! This is incredible!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Made it to NYC!
Some recent photos:
Downtown Manhattan from Jersey City, with sailboat on Hudson River--this one's a keeper!
Entering Jersey City on Rt. 1.
Downtown Newark, NJ. I found a large neighborhood of Brazilians in Newark. I hope to stop there on the way back, hang out and practice my Portuguese.
Church in Newark, NJ.
Mural in NE Philly.
Mural in NE Philly.
Mural on Frankford Ave in NE Philly.
Church in Philly.
Peace mural in Philly.
Mural in Philly, north of downtown on Broad.
Mural in Philly, downtown.
Making the deal with Janne Nuorti.
The trip was awesome. The ride's last two days were beautiful riding from Philly to Princeton, and Princeton to Manhattan. Heading out of Philly, I absorbed the culture along Frankford Ave/13. I stopped at a Chinese restaurant, practiced a little of the little Chinese I know, and the teenage siblings working there asked me all kinds of questions about my trip. We ate together and exchanged card tricks. They are from southern China, and have lived in northern Philly for ten years. I asked them if they were excited about China's recent economic growth, and the sixteen-year-old boy said that living here in the states, the growth doesn't really affect him personally. I asked him if he plans on going back, and he said he would like to go back to live for a while, but not permanently.
The ride through northern Philly and into NJ was flat and calm along the roads I traveled. It helped that it was Father's Day. At dusk, I arrived at a battlefield historical park just South of Princeton and pulled in to camp. The next morning, I rode through Princeton and ate a bagel breakfast in Kingston. The owners of the Kingston Deli and Cafe are of Korean origin, though one of them knew some Spanish from her middle and high school courses here in the US. She made use of the knowledge she had with the many Mexican and Central American immigrant workers who came in to buy some breakfast. "Quieres una bolsa?" she would say. "Eres bonita," they would say, and she would reply, "O, gracias." They would say, "Cuanto cuesta?" and she would say, "Cinco pesos." They would say, "Pesos o dolares?" "Dolares." Hahaha. I spoke with some folks from Oaxaca who worked in dry cleaning in Trenton. They were happy to hear about my trip to Chiapas.
Later on down the road, just outside of New Brunswick, I felt like a city from Mexico had been transplanted in New Jersey. The name of every business establishment was in Spanish, and Mexicans and other Latinos sat in the parks and along the sidewalks hanging out and congregating just as is common in Mexico. Nearly everyone I saw was Latino.
Once I got to the Hudson River in Jersey City, the influence of New York City was clear. Big, beautiful buildings sprung up, and as I biked along the Hudson, up towards the George Washington Bridge, I could look across the river at Manhattan. It seemed that the entire island was full of high rises.
I am going to visit friends and explore The City.