We protect what we love

FRIDAY . 12 . 11 . 21 .

Hi, Jodi here!

Expat, lover of nature, FWP volunteer and this

week’s newsletter host.

Jodi and son, Flynn, heading up active volcano Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, Vanuatu

I grew up in New Zealand and distinctly remember this ad campaign promoting NZ as a destination when I was a child. It exclaimed “Don't leave town until you've seen the country” and that’s exactly what I did. All through my childhood I travelled NZ’s spectacular landscapes and kindled a love for untouched wilderness. I also spent a lot of time hiking and sailing.

Since moving to Australia in 2016 I’ve traded the sailing for scuba diving and have been exploring a different kind of landscape. Diving the Cenotes – limestone caves in Mexico – has been a standout. And I still love hiking, and do this whenever I can.

New Zealand is a truly beautiful country. But I didn’t appreciate how amazing it is, until I left. Living in Australia has really bought home to me the impact we humans are having on the earth. The evidence is all around us.

Working with For Wild Places is great. I can bring my skills as a designer, communicator, marketer and my love of wild nature together to help drive change. We need our wild places. The more we share their intrinsic value and beauty the more people will want to save them.

WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING

Walking Melbourne's natural parks

Exploring Melbourne: in the Redwood Forest, Warburton

I’m off to immerse myself in the beautiful Bay of Fires for 5 days next February. As a warm-up I've been walking my way through Melbourne's amazing array of natural parks. From the Organ Pipes National Park and Plenty Gorge to the winding Yarra river. All right here on my doorstep. Thanks Covid lockdowns!

WHAT I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO

‘Everything is Alive’ from Radiotopia

In this quirky podcast host Ian Chillag interviews inanimate objects to share unique perspectives from life's simple things. Cleverly executed and very entertaining. Not only did I find this podcast funny and insightful, I also learnt some strange and random stuff. A great, but unusual, way to reconnect with the simple things in life.

You can learn more about 'Everything is Alive' here.

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING

‘Think Before you Swallow’ by Noel O'Hare

I found this on my bookshelf during lockdown. It's written with a healthy dose of skepticism and humour, combined with good old common sense. A refreshing reminder that an active, healthy lifestyle really is the best medicine!

You can read more about this book here.

STUDENT PROJECT WORK

Hilary McAllister, FWP Co-Founder and Director spoke to some year four students from Murrumbeena Primary in Melbourne, who are currently learning about how human actions impact other living things and the environment.

A student project that details the impact of palm oil on the earth, and shares some possible solutions.

One student explored the impact of palm oil on the earth, which cuts down rainforests and directly threatens 193 of the worlds endangered animals. This student urges people to shop sustainably and support companies that have made a strong commitment to use CSPO - Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, that doesn't require rainforests to be cut down for production.

Another student created a game about 'Electric Cars' that requires participants to listen to facts about the environmental benefits of electric cars, and collect lightning bolts whilst driving around a track. The goal is to beat your time. You can check out the incredible work here.

Several students also wrote a letters to the government, with the aim of creating a sense of urgency about the climate crisis. One stand out quote uses a sick person as an analogy:

"Think of the world as a sick person and we humans are the blood cells, trying to fight the sickness off but right now the blood cells are not helping the poor world who needs help. This is why I am writing to you. Not too long and the earth will be sick forever. This is urgent!"

I find these student projects equally inspiring and heartbreaking. They shouldn't be necessary, but I'm filled with optimism about what young people can, and already do, achieve.

We hope these student projects leave you inspired and ready to explore the wild places we love to protect over the weekend. Thanks again for taking the time For Wild Places.

🙏🏻 🙏🏼 🙏🏽 🙏🏾 🙏🏿

Jodi and the For Wild Places team.

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We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This newsletter was written on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin nation, and compiled on the stolen lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.

To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.

By For Wild Places

We're a group of adventurers who love to

protect wild places we run on