Confluence of art and nature

Most environmental art objects that I have ever seen, certainly original and embody the idea of protecting nature. Waste installations, photo exhibits and a lot more carry the call to be more attentive to the environment. But art, as well as actively growing number of fans of the green lifestyle, is not static, it evolves and absorbs the images and moods of the society, and gradually becomes more than just a mirror of the various social problems. Artists want to be not just an observers, especially when we see how global environmental problems are destroying our planet, but take a part in environmental movements. Daniel McCormick is one of such green art designers. His blog http://danielmccormick.blogspot.com/ I have been on his exibition in the David Brower Center.
Some pictures from the event.

Nature of waste water treatment

A few weeks of my American life I spent a lovely place in the city of Arcata. As environmental journalist I was interested to learn about recycling and waste water treatment. Russian environmentalists and journalists, speaking on environmental issues in Russia, used to cite as an example Europe and America, where these processes have become something inseparable from everyday life. In Arcata which is in Northern California, I had the opportunity to see how this happens. One of my journalist's sallies was a trip to the marsh. Local volunteers have been planted in the marsh sold grass to restore the local ecosystem. Along the way, I learned about how marshes are used to clean wastewater and wrote an article about it for a Russian newspaper. Here are excerpts from this article.

"This place was abandoned; there were only destroyed buildings timber plant and stations on sewage treatment, which did not work. But in the early 80's the city drew attention to his "problem areas". At that time, was founded FOAM » - says Julie Neander, Environmental Programs Manager of City of Arcata

For several decades, city residents have transformed the abandoned bogs into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area. The problem was unique - to keep the ecosystem, built here in this new station for sewage treatment. The technology, which was offered by public, was expensive, besides there was no confidence in its environmental safety. But nevertheless, it was adopted. "It took about ten years to overcome the political, administrative and financial obstacles in order to complete the project.
Cleaning system, built on a marsh, serves about 16,000 people and is a multi-complex. First isolated from sewage solid fractions, recycle them, mixed with sawdust or hay, and then used as compost. The liquid part of ozonized, and then disinfected by chlorination, remove chlorine, and then double-pumped the water through three interconnected marshes. Algae, which are in the marsh, absorb all organic parts, remaining in water after cleaning. Then the water from the marsh is leaking into the ocean under its own pressure"

But in Russia, and specifically in St. Petersburg, which is sometimes called the city on a marsh, there is a gig troubles with waste water treatment. Our rivers are polluted and continue to pollute. Plants that discharge into rivers and canals an industrial waste, working with local utilities’ organizations and this cooperation is beneficial for both. Businesses pay fines for water pollution to company who is responsible for save water in the city, and it is a gain for governmental the Petersburg’s centralized water supply company. These fines are incomparably less than the cost of the installation of purification filters. City’s collectors are not designed for wastewater treatment, and the heads of public services are aware of it. The problem becomes aggravated also because of the high level of corruption among officials responsible for environmental security in St. Petersburg. Greenpeace local office is one of the few organizations that are trying to solve this problem. We can solve this problem in only one way. I talked with the head of Friends of the Arcata Marsh, asking her about does the city government helps with volunteer work? Are there any benefits or donations? And she answered me - we are a government. So everything is working.  Unfortunately, we don’t have such confidence of who are our leaders as we are not sure about our own rights and responsibilities to ourselves and nature.; The answer lies precisely in the fact, whether we are ready to be our own government and to be responsible for every single pipe that pollutes our water?

There should be something personal

 My name is Sasha Nikolaeva, I am a Russian journalist. I came to
America two months ago and during this time many of the stereotypes
that were lined up in my mind in an orderly fashion, forming a certain
image of America that was extremely curious to me, transformed so much
that I can’t recognize it now. Some of them disappeared completely.
America has changed, getting closer, because every day I have to
overcome the unexpected obstacles that are emerging on my way. Such
collaboration make us closer by tug of war when this country

doesn’t allow me to get some rest and immerse myself in the rhythm of
life, but I stubbornly try to understand its rules and morality. But
on the other hand this western country became very distant, because
here I am forced to live by the laws that are totally alien to me. In
my mind there is no more of that, my America, which it always has
been. And now I discover it anew.

Yesterday, I was slightly acquainted with the Universiry of California, Berkeley. My friend showed me the Russian library in a huge building where the offices
of eastern culture are located. I was surprised we hadn't problems getting

into the building and nobody asked us to show our id. In Russia you
can’t just go to the department, you must show your student card to
guards. But unfortunately, the library was closed. However Russian
names on the doors of this eastern department were encouraging and
when I saw the photos of my hometown of St. Petersburg on the wall I
felt myself completely immersed in this international university
atmosphere. I realized that people, who come here to learn the Russian
language, are close to me because we have the same feeling of
inquisitiveness that doesn’t have borders. Those people are interested
in Russia, just as I was fascinated by America. This is our
similarities, and it allows us to better understand each other.
An unexplored reality reminded about itself when I, filled with the
university air, got out of this monastery of knowledge.
We were returning to the hotel, passing by shops, cafes and some

unidentified institutions. Out of the corner of my eye I watched myself,
reflected in numerous showcases. Suddenly, the reflection was gone, and I saw 

in the showcase someone's attentive stare, aiming for some

reason the bottom up. At first I did not realize what it was, but

looked more in the shop window, I realized that girls in some
unbelievable positions  are looking at me. Next to her are a few others bent
in the same position. I got what was happening behind the glass in a
little bit because I have done the same thing, and I know what yoga is.

But would I not go to a club where you are forced to deal with looking
at people passing by? Never. I don’t understand the meaning of this
openness.... Yoga - this is something personal, it's a training of
body and soul. This is in some measure loneliness in which you can
learn yourself ... And anyway, I personally would not like if everyone

in the street staring at my body bent in the position of a

triangle ... I want to concentrate on myself, but not on

other people's opinions ... So what are those people interested in?

Yoga? Well, it is questionable. I think they just pay their money to
show how good they are.
But the owner of the club can only be commended for finding a
business. Open windows are the best advertisement for the club. In my
opinion, this place is one of the best indicators of an American
insincerity. I saw a desire not to be better and more perfect, but to
pretend that you're so in this club window. It is an example of an
American fake. Isn't it?