Ian Elwood's blog

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts by taking our website user survey. The results were amazingly positive. We appreciated getting an honest assessment from our readers, users and viewers (you)!

Eighty-one people filled out the survey and what little criticism we received was helpful and constructive. Here are some notable responses:

"I follow[ed] International Rivers' work since last year, and I like it very much."

Google China Logo

Being an activist who works in China may have gotten a lot harder in the past few weeks. Google and twenty other large US based companies were hit by a sophisticated cyber-attack that originated from within China in December, making the company question its policies about doing business there. What is of concern to our readers is that the attackers were attempting to get information on Chinese human rights activists. While the attacks were unsuccessful it still brings up a familiar theme to those advocating on behalf of the poor and marginalized -- questioning the status quo is not always popular.

Today I received an email asking to use our video We All Live Downstream as the opening video for a University of Nevada sponsored youth video contest -- of course I said yes.  The contest entrants are in the age range from 7th to 12th grade, and their short videos feature the Carson River Watershed.

As International Rivers has come to use video and other multimedia more in recent years, it is nice to see the next generation of river protectors taking up the cause. 

Take a look at a few of their videos and vote on your favorite.  The winner gets five hundred dollars, not a bad prize for a high school student!

International Rivers climate scientist Payal Parekh was interviewed about climate change on the Reuters blog today from Copenhagen.  Take a look at the whole story on Reuters.com.

Check out another Patagonia related event on October 14th at our new home, the David Brower Center.

Attending will be Conservacion Patagonica President and former Patagonia Inc. CEO Kristine M. Tompkins.  Also in attendance will be President of the Conservation Land Trust, Douglas R. Tompkins.

Details below...

Bay Area Independent film makers Brian Lilla, Scott Douglas and Greg Miller are fundraising to complete a documentary that covers the a proposed dam project in Patagonia and local reactions to its impact.  From the video description, "Shot in January 2009, this video captures the people, water and mountains of Patagonia's pristine Rio Baker. A mega hydroelectric scheme threatens this vital corridor and Patagonia’s future hangs in the balance. The documentary Patagonia Rising is investigating the hopeful solutions to Chile's energy future while addressing the global need for clean water and free flowing rivers."