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open share / musings

Greetings, Reader

Like most newsletters, this edition is written/created in chunks. At the moment I'm writing this, I'm sitting on a fallen cedar tree (I think) laying across Wildcat Creek on the Kitsap peninsula of western Washington state. The mid-afternoon sun is lighting up the tops of the canopy all around me, diffusing the summer sun into a soft glow here on the forest floor. A warm and gentle breeze just blew through the thick, lush, moss and lichen-filled forest of mostly evergreens with some deciduous trees sprinkled here and there. The clear creek beneath my dangling feet is clear with good flow, although it is also clear from how wide and deep the creekbed is that it is far below the levels it was at some months ago during the rainy season. A few kids, parents, and young adults have walked by on my short walk down a well-maintained path here. They are likely heading back towards the main play/camp/theater area, where dinner will soon be served to friends and family of the kids who have participated in this week's summer program. My dear friends Caroline & Mike have enrolled their older son here, and kindly invited me along for this unique dinner experience.

^ This response is from one of my long-time friends in Seattle. I promptly took up on this generous offer and had a grand time staying in "casita," a space that I've stayed at multiple times, including my parents! Extra special to have had a old friend and newsletter reader reach out with this gift and to spend more quality time together as I pass through my old home that is the Seattle & Puget Sound region.

We left off from the previous newsletter in Jackson, Wyoming, the entrance to the Grand Teton mountains and National Park. I got to traverse through absolutely magnificent terrain in the weeks that followed. I spent much time on my own and at times with beloved old friends and new humans along the journey throughout Montana, Washington and Oregon. 2 weeks ago, I flew to Oklahoma to attend Beth & Anjesh's beautiful wedding in the rural town where Beth crew up. I am currently in southern California working on various projects, spending time with family, and preparing for all of the adventures ahead. I'm very Thankful to have my parents' home to be in for the time being! Adventures with Spaceship Prius in the Pacific Northwest shall continue next week when I return to Oregon.

In these past 8 weeks, I got to record 2 new conversations with 2 living legends from Montana for the Wilderness Within podcast (more on this below!). More recordings are coming up, possibly in Oregon and Nevada, and certainly California after Burning Man, where I'll be part of the BMIR (Burning Man Information Radio) crew. Ridiculously exciting! Meanwhile, Camila and I continue to await NZ Immigration's response on my work visa. 🤞

A few days ago, I got to celebrate this young man's birthday. I've missed his birth and every single one of his birthdays, until now! Happy and healthy solar return to you, nephew!

Here are some highlights from life on the road, with old & new humans, surrounded by natural beauty, life unfolding serendipitously, and with much time for contemplation & reflection:
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^ Response from one of my patreon supporters that got me all warm & fuzzy. 😊

Which leads me to... for my incredible patreon supporters - I have for you over 240 handpicked images & videos from the ground and the sky for your enjoyment, all in higher resolution with locations and some additional context noted. BIG thank you for your continued support!! 🌟

Onwards to good news, original shares, and some recommendations below.

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global good news

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😊

Here we go with this edition's good news you likely haven't heard about!

• Bangladesh has just pulled off one of the most successful disease elimination efforts of all time. In 2001, lymphatic filariasis, a crippling and disfiguring neglected tropical disease, was endemic in 19 of the country's 64 districts, with an estimated 70 million people at risk. Earlier this week, the WHO confirmed that the disease has been completely eliminated.
• Australia has become the first country in the world to classify psychedelics as medicines at a national level, approving their use to treat some mental health conditions. Registered psychiatrists can now prescribe MDMA to those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and psilocybin for some types of depression. Nature​

• Nepal has achieved remarkable progress in healthcare in recent decades, thanks in large part to its 51,000 female community health volunteers (FCHV). Between 1996 and 2022, maternal and child mortality fell by half, contraceptive use rose from 26% to 43%, the prevalence of childhood stunting more than halved, and the percentage of fully vaccinated children doubled. My Republica​

• Two wins for LGBTQI rights. Taiwan just amended its laws to allow same-sex couples to adopt children they are not biologically related to, and Namibia's Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriages conducted outside the country must be recognised by the government, expanding the interpretation of the term 'spouse' in its immigration laws.
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• Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell 68% in April compared to last year, the first monthly drop under the watch of Lula, and an indication that after a slow start, efforts are starting to pay off. Land clearing is down 40% this year so far–news that comes off the back of the recent ban on mining and commercial farming on 620,000 hectares of Indigenous reserves. Reuters​
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• Astronomers have used the world's largest survey telescope in Chile to stitch together a million images and create an infrared atlas of five stellar nurseries, revealing the secret lives of young stars in the making. The images pick up even the faintest sources of light, like stars far less massive than the Sun, revealing objects that no one has ever seen before. Cosmos
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• Have you heard of the Loess Plateau? It's one of the greatest regeneration stories of all time. In 1994, China and the World Bank got together to restore nearly four million acres of over-grazed, over-harvested lands in north-central China. In less than 20 years, it was transformed into green valleys and productive farmland, and it is now greener and wetter than at any other point in the last two centuries.
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• Malaysia, one of the ten biggest plastic polluters in the world, is ramping up its campaign to ban the use of all plastic bags. After starting with fixed business locations like supermarkets and shops, the ban will now expand to roadside stalls, and by 2025, will be extended to all physical outlets in the country. Straits Times
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• The EU's highest decision making body just gave the final go-ahead for a new rule designed to stop the import of any products that destroy forests. The cut-off date has been backdated, meaning that only products that have been produced on land that has not been deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020 will be allowed to be imported to or exported from the EU.
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• Jamaica's plastic ban, implemented three years ago, has largely eliminated plastic straws and bags, as well as styrofoam boxes and cups, and reduced plastic waste by several million tonnes. 'It has been a huge victory, it triggered a lot of consciousness, it triggered a lot of action.' A new round of fines is now being planned to address leakage and shut down loopholes. Radio Jamaica​
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• Beneath 3,500 km2 of rain forest in northern Guatemala, scientists have discovered 417 cities dating back to 1000 BCE that are connected by 117 km of roads, ceremonial complexes, hydraulic systems and agricultural infrastructure. The findings show the ancient Mayas were far more sophisticated than previously thought, 'a whole volume of human history that we’ve never known.' WaPo​
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• Last year, Panama passed a law guaranteeing the rights of nature. That law is now being used to protect sea turtles in some of the world's most important nesting spots, giving them the right to an environment free of pollution and other detrimental human impacts, and with enough specificity that those rights can be enforced. AP​
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• An amendment to a law in Switzerland that recognises that any sex without consent is rape has been heralded as a “historic victory for human rights.” It marks the end of the outdated definition that considered only women as victims and required the use of physical force or coercion. Amnesty​
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• Malawi is on track to reach its goal of restoring 4.5 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030. Since 2015, it has put about 1.7 million hectares of land and forest under restoration, almost 40% of the goal. "This tree is magic. It is pure magic. It has rehabilitated the soils here so rapidly and I like how it coexists with other crops while also fertilizing the soils for their growth." Mongabay​
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• Australia will triple the size of its Macquarie Island Marine Park and close off an area larger than Germany to fishing and mining. Located between Tasmania and Antarctica, the park will expand to 475,465 km2, protecting millions of seabirds and wildlife including elephant and fur seals, whales, and the royal penguin, which is found nowhere else on earth. CNN
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• The Indian state of Karnataka has made bus travel free for all women. The response has been a tidal wave of smiling women laying siege to buses. In the first nine days of the scheme, more than 40 million women climbed aboard. The policy could be life-changing–in India’s patriarchal culture, one way of controlling women’s movement is by denying them money. Guardian​

• The United States says it will rejoin UNESCO, the UN's cultural and scientific agency (and pay more than $600 million in back dues) after a dispute sparked by the inclusion of Palestine as a member in 2011. The Trump administration withdrew from UNESCO in 2017. 'It’s an important day for multilateralism.' Associated Press
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• Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has given the green light to a bill seeking to decriminalize homosexuality, a move hailed by campaigners as a 'historic development that has created hope towards real change.' CNN​
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• Estonia has become the first ex-Soviet state–and 35th country in the world–to pass a law legalising same-sex marriage. Lawmakers voted to approve the law earlier this week, and it will go into effect on 1st January 2024. 'This is a decision that does not take anything away from anyone but gives something important to many.' CNN​
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• Kenya has made some big strides in reducing teen pregnancy, with rates falling by more than half in four years. In 2018, healthcare facilities recorded a total of 427,297 pregnant teenagers. By 2022, that number had fallen to 260,442. This is a big deal–until recently Kenya had the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the world. The Standard
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• South Korea keeps 90% of its food waste out of landfills and turns most of that into animal feed, fertiliser and fuel. The success of composting in South Korea wasn't inevitable and didn't magically emerge from Korean culture. It was designed (and can be replicated).

• Chinese researchers say they've developed perovskite solar cells that not only have greater efficiency but can also be mass-produced at half the cost of traditional silicon cells. Last year, this team's work was recognised as one of the top 10 scientific advancements in China by the Ministry of Science and Technology because of its potential. SCMP
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• New Zealand is on a roll. This week, it became the first country to ban plastic bags used for loose fruit and vegetables in supermarkets, a move that will reduce waste by a further 150 million bags per year. Meanwhile, conservation efforts to save native bird life are ramping up with a plan to exterminate predators like rats by 2050. BBC​

Well, what do you think? Has reading this section brightened your day, perhaps even shifted your mindset towards humanity and/or our earth to a more positive light? Remember, these good news sources can be easily found via Future Crunch + Good Good Good.

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original work / offerings

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For this edition, I am proudly plugging my new project, Wilderness Within (WW) Podcast.

Since announcing it about 2 years ago, I've been actively reaching out to and making plans with my amazing friends across the Americas to line up a physical reunion and recording to explore their inner worlds. Thus far, we've recorded 12 conversations at 10 locations across 3 countries - the U.S. (6 different states), Mexico (2 different states), and Ecuador. Here are snippets from our time together. I have collaborated with my good friends Scott Hanson of Creature Hour and Carlos Militante for original music for the podcast. They are SO talented in their own rights, and their sounds complement the atmosphere I wish to create in these deep conversations.

By staying subscribed to this newsletter, you'll no doubt also hear future drops of the first episodes! 2 days ago, I began editing the very first episode with Orion Haas, and will soon begin cutting together the episode with Mariana Jimenez. If you Instagram and don't already follow WW, I invite you to do so @wildernesswithinpod Thanks for tagging along!

Just like this newsletter, WW is made possible in part thanks to the ongoing support of my patreon supporters. With their financial contributions, I've been able to more easily acquire new gear, create travel plans, and crave out time to co-create this new production. Embarking on this new commitment has taught me to be a better listener and questions-asker. This process has also brought forth many insecurities and fear. I've watched myself procrastinate and delay the official launch of this project, questioning how worthwhile is this, or self-sabotaging thoughts such as who am I to host a podcast. Through it all, I've learned so much about where and what I must work on within myself. The eagerness of my friends to allow me to sit down with them for a recorded dive into their inner wilderness has already been amazing gift. I cannot wait to finally bring their(our) stories and wisdom to light!

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recommendations

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Instead of starting with a recommended video(s), I wanna kick off this edition's recommendation section with another publication by Brian Stout named 'Bridging toward Belonging.' I've been subbed to Brian's posts for over 2 years now, and while I don't read every one of his publications, they are generally thought-provoking and value-providing each time. In particular, Brian's recent post named 'Can we learn to receive... in order to Belong?' really resonates for me, especially as he succinctly sequences the elements of receiving: 1. To be seen, 2. To be centered, 3. To be held, 4. To be chosen, 5. To be celebrated. Hope it is of value to you as well!

Well, moving on then, to this month's favorite videos

'Daughter of the Sea'

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'Learning to Value'

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Favorite podcasts of late:
​Good Grief, on For the Love of Climbing​
​The polar bears of Hudson Bay: cubs, climate, and calories, on The Wild with Chris Morgan​
​Dr. BÁYÒ AKÓMOLÁFÉ on Ontological Mutiny, on For the Wild

I am reading:
​Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: Practical Tools to Establish Boundaries and Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy - by Lindsay C. Gibson
​The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture - by Gabor Maté

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gratitude

For those of you who are new to this newsletter, welcome and thank you!
Your time & attention are invaluable, and I sincerely hope you find value here. 😊

Yes! I appreciate your enjoyment!

This publication is a labor of love & devotion. For each edition, I spend hours compiling, writing, editing, and weaving content altogether. It is made possible in huge part due to patrons who pitch in regularly on patreon. Supporters get bonus content such as this newsletter edition's bonus album. This income has become a small yet reliable, essential pillar of financial support. Supporters allow this publication and other creative pursuits to be possible while keeping them ad-free, past, present, and future. I must also thank friends around the globe who hire me for their portraits, engagements, weddings, business/org photo & videoshoots, etc. that contribute to the financial pie.

Without these supporters, there would likely be no newsletter, and it'd be a bigger challenge for me to commit the additional time and resources to commence Wilderness Within amidst commitments and life itself. I am ever thankful for their financial support month after month. If you're keen to learn more or ready to pitch in, for as little as $1 USD/month, please head over to my patreon page, or if regular contributions aren't your thing, I also have a tip jar - think of me as a "street busker" with cameras, curation, and musings.​ 💰

These are the humans that make this newsletter, the podcast, and other aspects of my life possible: 🤗

Grateful for you Reader,

Jonathan