EKOS Communications, Inc.

From the local to the global, no environmental issue escapes Heggen's eye nor his twisted sense of humour. Whether it be frustrations over hyper-abundant Canada geese populations polluting Vancouver Island beaches or deep concerns over the hyper-abundant human population that threatens to overwhelm the planet's carrying capacity, Heggen's line drawings provoke as much laughter as they do deep thought and reflection. Enjoy!

Deep in the jungles and mountains of northwestern Ecuador, four tiny and isolated communities are fighting to protect their way of life and the ecosystems upon which it depends from a Canadian mining company’s proposed open-pit and smelter development. Shot by an Ecuadorian environmental group, the accompanying video takes the viewer into these communities to hear first-hand the reasons they oppose the mine, and their call for help.

Rain, clear cuts, and roadside garbage highlight my memory of riding through Washington. Of these my memory of garbage is most disturbing. A visit to Patagonia Inc. in Ventura California 3700 kilometres later gave us a look at what one company is doing not only to reduce garbage but to discard the concept of garbage all together.

One of the major tasks we handle every day of this trip is setting up camp at the end of the day. We have found some spectacular campsites along the coast, but I have been thinking of other species that also migrate southwards, and the difficulties they face finding food and rest.

Thirty seven days on the road brought us to the heart of California wine country. Our first stop was the Benziger Family Winery on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain. As we entered the winery I noticed a vibrant feeling of life, absent in wineries we rode past earlier in the day. The reason for this difference is the Benziger family’s commitment to a growing movement in the wine industry called biodynamic farming.[img: vineyard]

From Micro to Macro, biodiversity on this planet is threatened. A visit with a seed farmer and a ride through an alpine pass inspired thoughts on genetics and ecology. Whether you call it Westernization or Progress, our experience of the natural world is becoming flatter - everything looks the same!

While climate change is no laughing matter, Victoria, BC – based cartoonist, Ole Heggen has found a way to create chuckles and deliver a serious message at the same time. From the waffling of the Canadian government to the plight of the Arctic’s polar bears, Heggen uses strong ink work and lettering style to maximize the impact of his cartoons. EkosTV is pleased to present these four drawings and hope to bring our viewers more in the future.

We are four adventurers on a mission to discover environmentally sustainable initiatives along the Pacific Coast, learning, exploring, and spreading the good word as we go. We are leaving Vancouver in September 2005 by bicycle and riding through Washington, Oregon, California and into Mexico. Along the way we will be searching for farms, schools, communities, and individuals who are examining alternatives and solutions to the environmental crisis, to learn from them and to carry their ideals and dreams onwards with us.