In the wake of the “derecho” storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic, Governor O’Malley blamed global warming for prolonged power outages in Maryland.

When I grow up, I want to be Jane Goodall.

Dr. Goodall’s time spent in the forests of Africa mean that she not only understands the intrinsic value and beauty of the forests themselves, she also deeply understands the interconnection of people and forests.

Yesterday, while addressing a crowd of hundreds at the Avoided Deforestation Partners event in COP-17 in Durban, she laid it out quite simply, as she recounted her return to Lake Tanganyika where poverty has fueled the deforestation that destroyed the once lush forests that surrounded the lake: “we can’t save the forests if we can’t save the people.”

Stay busy and stay outside … a simple message from my grandparents that helped me develop a deep connection to our planet and an appreciation for those who use it sustainably

The Nature Conservancy is working with villagers in Madang Province to map and plan the future of their lands, and establish an income-producing coffee cooperative.