Well, I was finally able to get out on the water here in LA on Friday and Saturday to start putting in my hours in a kayak and also to try to play some much needed catch up to Kevin and Brian’s training regimes.
To return to the Marina down here was in and of itself a trip down memory lane. The last time I set foot at the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center was in my early college days, where I would rise at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning walk a mile to the bus, take the bus for an hour, and then walk another mile to the water, determined to stay in touch with my outdoor roots. Not much has changed at the MAC, except the sets of fresh young faces eagerly learning how to sail, row, and kayak.
To be back in a boat was a bit like returning to a comforting home (which is good considering it will be my abode for 4 months this summer!). There’s something very soothing about being in a boat and paddling, sinking into a rhythm with your stroke, and feeling the water shift beneath you. It was a welcome change to slow my mind back to the present moment, turn off the to do lists and remind myself of the reasons why water is such an integral part of our existence.
As I settled into my paddling groove, my mind wandered back to my college days when, after practicing rescue techniques in the Marina, I would emerge from the water feeling slightly ill, my body fighting off toxins from the surrounding concrete jungle. And that was just one Marina…
The Mississippi River travels through 10 states and “it drains 41% of the Continental United States...including all or parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces (Wikipedia).” That’s a lot of run off feeding into the Gulf of Mexico. It is no wonder then that the dead zone at the bottom of it all has grown to be the size of New Jersey.
Thinking about these statistics can be overwhelming, and a feeling of hopelessness can easily wash over you as easily as the water itself...but that is a dangerous route to take. My hope is that this trip will provide inspiration for people to start thinking about water in their lives, and what they can do to help now. Everything from turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, to participating in a local river/bay/wetland cleanup day, to donating towards building a well for those who have no access to clean water.
Water is the foundation of our lives, it feeds and nourishes us, it provides relief, and fun filled activities. It connects us all...
I hope you join us this summer, for the love of water!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
My next Adventure (What I'm up to and How you can Help!)
So I'm off again! Ready to embark on my next amazing adventure! This one includes a kayak, a 2500 mile long river, and the water crisis.
No time to read? Just check out the campaign video I helped put together.
http://www.kyte.tv/whataboutblue
From July through October, I'm kayaking the length of the Mississippi River to help raise money and awareness for the Global Water Crisis with a non-profit organization called What About Blue? (http://www.whataboutblue.org)
As you may or may not know our planet is running out of water, our rivers are running dry, we're emptying our aquifers, and much of the water we do have is polluted. 6,000 people die a day from lack of access to clean water, and by 2025 1.8 BILLION people will live in regions with little or no water.
By kayaking the Mississippi (the worlds 4th largest water shed, with a Dead Zone at the bottom of it the size of New Jersey), our goal is to create an event large enough to garner much needed attention surrounding water issues. By paddling from Lake Itasca, MN to the Gulf of Mexico, from July-Oct we aim to unite and inspire a nation to take action for a critical cause. Through media coverage, blogs, photos, and a documentary, we hope to spread the net wide.
Sounds great! How can I help!!!?
Step one, JOIN OUR NETWORK! Go to our website http://www.whataboutblue.org and sign up to be a part of our site, it's free, and it will keep you updated with our journey this summer.
Step two, GIVE "A LATTE FOR LIFE." $5 a month for a year will go to local, national, and international charities dealing with preservation and conservation issues, and supplying fresh water to those in need. (We're currently teaming with Blue Planet Run and the River Network).
Step three, INVEST IN THE EXPEDITION! If you have connections to a company or corporation interested in sponsoring a large scale event for an environmental cause with massive media attention, put me in touch! Their name will be associated with all events, promotions, and media coverage. (FOX news is our official media partner).
If you'd like to make a personal lump-sum contribution towards "What About Blue" please let me know, all contributions are tax deductible and checks are payable to What About Blue Inc. and can be sent to 600 1st Ave North, Suite 302 St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Step four, MORE MEDIA CONNECTIONS! If you have contacts or connections with journalists, newspapers, magazines, blogs, filmmakers that may be interested in writing an article, following our story, or helping with our documentary about the entire journey, let me know!
Step five, START DISCUSSIONS! Start engaging in conversations about these pressing issues, tell people you know about some dedicated folks who are kayaking the Mississippi; send them to our website; forward this email, reach out to your networks and spread the net wide!
Step six, ENJOY SOME WATER! And I don't mean take an extra long shower! Get outside: paddle, surf, sail, or sit by a waterfall and enjoy water for it's pure magnificence.
Step seven, SAY GOODBYE (sniff). I would love to see you before I depart, and will be holding going-away benefits in
LOS ANGELES: this Sat the 23rd at 9pm at Joe's Joint 8771 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. $10 suggested donation, raffle prizes from Patagonia, spa services, gym memberships. The more the merrier!
BAY AREA: Sun June 21st-It's the Equinox, Father's Day, a What About Blue Benefit, AND a going away party all in one! We'll be doing a paddle to the Gate at 1pm from Sea Trek in Sausalito (cost $75-3/4 of which goes to WAB!-Thank you SEA TREK!) and a Barbecue on the beach around 5 (cost $10). More info soon!
Step eight...ok no more steps, but anything you think you can do to help with any of the above would be much appreciated. Including and not limited to sponsorship, proposals, non-profits, funding, documentary filmmaking, donations, gear suggestions, and words of wisdom...:)
Your love and support is a constant inspiration to me, I look forward to hearing from you, and having you follow along on this next adventure with me!
Much love,
Danielle
Danielle Katz
Team Blue Member
Blue, it's the new Green!
Jump onboard today at http://www.whataboutblue.com
No time to read? Just check out the campaign video I helped put together.
http://www.kyte.tv/
From July through October, I'm kayaking the length of the Mississippi River to help raise money and awareness for the Global Water Crisis with a non-profit organization called What About Blue? (http://www.whataboutblue.org)
As you may or may not know our planet is running out of water, our rivers are running dry, we're emptying our aquifers, and much of the water we do have is polluted. 6,000 people die a day from lack of access to clean water, and by 2025 1.8 BILLION people will live in regions with little or no water.
By kayaking the Mississippi (the worlds 4th largest water shed, with a Dead Zone at the bottom of it the size of New Jersey), our goal is to create an event large enough to garner much needed attention surrounding water issues. By paddling from Lake Itasca, MN to the Gulf of Mexico, from July-Oct we aim to unite and inspire a nation to take action for a critical cause. Through media coverage, blogs, photos, and a documentary, we hope to spread the net wide.
Sounds great! How can I help!!!?
Step one, JOIN OUR NETWORK! Go to our website http://www.whataboutblue.org and sign up to be a part of our site, it's free, and it will keep you updated with our journey this summer.
Step two, GIVE "A LATTE FOR LIFE." $5 a month for a year will go to local, national, and international charities dealing with preservation and conservation issues, and supplying fresh water to those in need. (We're currently teaming with Blue Planet Run and the River Network).
Step three, INVEST IN THE EXPEDITION! If you have connections to a company or corporation interested in sponsoring a large scale event for an environmental cause with massive media attention, put me in touch! Their name will be associated with all events, promotions, and media coverage. (FOX news is our official media partner).
If you'd like to make a personal lump-sum contribution towards "What About Blue" please let me know, all contributions are tax deductible and checks are payable to What About Blue Inc. and can be sent to 600 1st Ave North, Suite 302 St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Step four, MORE MEDIA CONNECTIONS! If you have contacts or connections with journalists, newspapers, magazines, blogs, filmmakers that may be interested in writing an article, following our story, or helping with our documentary about the entire journey, let me know!
Step five, START DISCUSSIONS! Start engaging in conversations about these pressing issues, tell people you know about some dedicated folks who are kayaking the Mississippi; send them to our website; forward this email, reach out to your networks and spread the net wide!
Step six, ENJOY SOME WATER! And I don't mean take an extra long shower! Get outside: paddle, surf, sail, or sit by a waterfall and enjoy water for it's pure magnificence.
Step seven, SAY GOODBYE (sniff). I would love to see you before I depart, and will be holding going-away benefits in
LOS ANGELES: this Sat the 23rd at 9pm at Joe's Joint 8771 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. $10 suggested donation, raffle prizes from Patagonia, spa services, gym memberships. The more the merrier!
BAY AREA: Sun June 21st-It's the Equinox, Father's Day, a What About Blue Benefit, AND a going away party all in one! We'll be doing a paddle to the Gate at 1pm from Sea Trek in Sausalito (cost $75-3/4 of which goes to WAB!-Thank you SEA TREK!) and a Barbecue on the beach around 5 (cost $10). More info soon!
Step eight...ok no more steps, but anything you think you can do to help with any of the above would be much appreciated. Including and not limited to sponsorship, proposals, non-profits, funding, documentary filmmaking, donations, gear suggestions, and words of wisdom...:)
Your love and support is a constant inspiration to me, I look forward to hearing from you, and having you follow along on this next adventure with me!
Much love,
Danielle
Danielle Katz
Team Blue Member
Blue, it's the new Green!
Jump onboard today at http://www.whataboutblue.com
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