The Art Complex

underthebiosphere:

Alpha is taking a shot at entering WWF’s design contest. If you great people are members of Threadless.com, feel free to vote for this design or any others that might intrigue you. This contest is to generate interesting designs about saving our wildlife by engaging the creative people out there.

If you’re not a member, still give the site a look-see. They have great shirts, most of which were designed by great talent. Check-em out.

Also, in the event this particular design wins, Alpha will take his profits and give to local shelters instead of being kept to purchase dirty, dirty things.

underthebiosphere:

For a city as diverse as Toronto, this ban is a tough topic to deal with. What makes it tougher, are political officials like (soon to be former) Mayor Rob Ford, and superior court judge, James Spence, claiming the ban on Shark Fin sales is far too large of a policy for one city to handle. On the other hand, the act of “Finning” is anything but humane. Not to disparage one culture’s traditional practice, but thousands of people indulging in a bowl of $100 soup, is not helping the people that fend off poachers and corporate industries that are rapidly depleting ocean life. If it’s unsustainable, it’s unnecessary,

Ontario is giving up too easily. When the bylaw was passed in September, it was voted 38 to 4. The challenge coming mostly from Chinese businesses in Toronto. Most of them want definitive proof that “finning” is completely inhumane. Even though, the proof is well stacked against them.

The good news is, other provinces are still pursuing this ban.
Mcguinty however is still keeping his hands clean.

Disappointed Toronto. Keep up the fight Canada.

underthebiosphere:

A biosphere is a sum of all ecosystems. A network of self-regulating systems which, as individual worlds, are amazing spectacles to witness. But it’s easily forgotten as to how the actions of one world, effect the next. In school we’re taught that this term applies to the Animal Kingdom. We’re taught that, one observes interactions within biospheres to get a better sense of symbiosis and how organisms interact within these networks. The truth is, our planet, our many nations that span the land masses on this planet, is part of one large Biosphere.

We’re slowly entering, if not already in, a time where our environmental awareness is in need, and despite how many celebrities and political figures point fingers in this situation, the key to this issue is education, learning the consequences of our actions, and taking the necessary steps. Society has tried lecturing and scaring the facts into us and admittedly, we did learn a few things.

However, people are seeking information for themselves in the present day and this is a time where technology has made information easily accessible and made easily to share.

Consider this an experiment. “BIOSPHERE” isn’t here with the intent to make profit, or lecture you with notes from, “The Inconvenient Truth”. My name is “Alpha”, and I love the wildlife that we share this planet with. Alpha believes that, like human rights, animal rights is important, and that all it takes, is a single voice to get an idea going.

It was a tedious process, but Alpha chose this logo to represent “BIOSPHERE” because with a bit of art, simplicity, and puzzle-like thinking, an image was formed to convey what a biosphere is, and what Alpha sets out to protect. Look carefully and you will see a sky of birds and insect wings, the watchful eyes of mammals, shadows of the people celebrating, and the tail of aquatic life.

Alpha looks forward to sharing with you all.

Keeping an eye on your blog Alpha.

Internal debate: In clothing, I dislike seeing women wear animal print. Especially when it’s a friend I’m hanging out with. I won’t raise heck about it if you choose to wear it. It’s your sense of style and I’ll respect that. However, I was presented with this design, and I strangely find it attractive. I guess it’s because it’s not overkill or tacky. It covers a small area, and on this person it’s not revealed most of the time. Which adds cool factor for whenever her shoulders are eventually revealed.

End of the day, regardless if she’s a wildlife admirer (like myself) or not, I’ll just say, I find this hot.

That is all.

showslow:

Illustrations byPolkip.

Beautiful.

Coyote Watching

Went Coyote prowling last night in High Park. I usually would ask some of my animal-loving friends if they’d want to join, but who am I kidding? Lately everyone is here and there.

However, my calculations were correct. This is usually the time most mammals go into hibernation or at least prep for it. Coyotes on the other hand, are adaptable and remain active year-round. I was able to tail what seemed like a mother and her pups. No sight of a father. Which I’d assume was prowling elsewhere. I was able to take notes based on observation and made a few sketches here and there. My only regret was not having a decent camera to take photos in a night setting; the iPhone wasn’t cutting it.

The highlight was, nearing the end of my watch, the subjects were interacting with more of its kind, which lead me to believe that the area I was in, was possibly an area of high Coyote activity. I can’t explain how great of a sight it was.

Haven’t these guys heard of relocation? Certainly moving these bears and hiring some folks to aid them in the adaptation process, is far more humane than putting them down for merely being used to humans. The fault is ours with our sprawling population. Don’t take it out on the wildlife.

My visit to the Zoo was briefly soured by the sight of a gentleman wearing an Arctic Fox scarf. I understand that centuries ago, it was Aboriginal heritage that wore these skins and it also played an important role in pelt trading. In present day, this gentleman didn’t dress as if he was of any tribe, and his boasting only made it a lot more disgusting. It was sad to see waste of a beautiful creature.

nbcnews:

Penguins return to the sea following oil spill in South Africa

(Photo: Schalk Van Zuydam / AP)

Some two hundred penguins found covered in oil on Robben Island following a spillage by a stricken bulk carrier were washed, fed and restored to health. Thirty of the birds were released today.

View more photos.

(via nbcnews)

The King Cheetah was once considered to be an endangered specie of the Spotted Cheetah. Up until the late 70s, it was discovered that the striped back and mane-like fur on the neck was a result of a gene mutation.