What Happens Inside of Us Affects the Whole Planet

t's a challenge to summarize how I feel the day before the 2016 election. The stress of the moment, the anxiousness of the world and the extreme differences in desires, weigh heavy on my soul.

I could talk about the exciting (bear) Cubs win. Or the ship (USS Bear), a famous 68 year old wooden sailing vessel that carried men safely to Antarctica and back. Or the Arctic polar bears endangered because the sea ice is melting. What does Bear medicine have to tell us?

Be in silence, nurture your receptive side, seek and find your own answers, take action on your creative projects and tear down the illusions of this physical world.

Here's my reflection.

It's election day 1916. George Washington Gibbs, Sr. votes for his Presidential candidate, Charles Evan Hughes. Hughes is a middle of the road Republican. As governor of New York, Hughes was a champion of progressive causes. GWGibbs Sr. is disappointed that a Democrat, Woodrow Wilson, wins the election. So, on 11/7/1916, he changes his new son's name from Charles E. Hughes to George Washington Gibbs, Jr.

GWGibbs Jr., goes on to have an extraordinary life in the military, politics, corporate management, community leadership, entrepreneurship and family. At his birthday party (election day 11/7/2000),
George happily passes away thinking his candidate, Al Gore, wins the election. A political animal until death.

As I publicly acknowledge my father's 100th birthday, I wonder:

What history will we make on election day 2016?
How will our fate change?
What dreams wake, regardless of who wins?
And what is the golden thread that continues 100 years from now, in spite of our human drama?

What happens tomorrow affects the entire human race. What happens on Antarctica is the result of our actions. We are All Antarctica.

Leilani Henry at Holy Trinity Church (Russian: Церковь Святой Троицы), a small Russian Orthodox church on King George Island © Leilani Henry

George W. Gibbs Jr. aboard the USS Bear 1940 © Leilani Henry

Gibbs Made History Today

Joyce Gibbs (George's wife) and Leilani Henry (daughter)

 A few months ago, I found another document that speaks of today's historical event.  One of his ship mates wrote on January 14, 1940, George W. Gibbs, Jr. was the first Negro in Antarctica.  It's exciting to find more evidence of personal connections aboard the USS Bear.  

Today is the 75th anniversary!  

 The Prime Meridian in Antarctica is less than 500 miles/900 kilometers east from where the crew of the USS Bear docked for the first time, on the Ross Ice Shelf. 

A few weeks ago, my mother and I stood on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich Park, London.  

How cool is that?  Thanks to our hosts Vicky Thomas and David Hall. 

Forbes with HSBC Interview about my Antarctica Adventure

Adventure Lessons, Personal Economy by Susan Burnell
http://onforb.es/1rC1Bf4

This article puts a twist on travel, and work/life balance.  I hope you feel inspired by it.

Antarctic Ice Sheet-Point of No Return?

Have you heard?  NASA reports in a study of West Antarctic Ice Sheet that the melting trend is irreversible.  http://bbc.in/1sGMMp6

At the start of my video on this blog, I say  "Antarctica's melting".  At the time, I felt the words were strong.  Now I understand we are at a point of no return.  

So, what are the questions?  Who cares if this is 200-500 years out?  What does this mean for the next 100 years?  What thought patterns can we hold that could make this a positive adventure?  What's possible to learn from the knowledge and history the ice holds?  What part could human consciousness play in this unfolding research?  

Even though my focus on Antarctica is more than a hobby, I feel both sadness and curiosity of this current news.  Let's continue to stay aware of ourselves, each other and our collective strength for positive outcomes.

Today-Guest Blogger for The Antarctic Book of Cooking & Cleaning

It's Easter Day 2014 and Passover Week. Thanks to Carol Devine for hosting me on her The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning blog.  http://bit.ly/1mpQRv3

MY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING IN ANTARCTICA

I've certainly been reminded of cold this week, stuck in the east coast storm, trekking around NYC and Brooklyn.  Happy Birthday to Ernest Shackleton too!  

Paul D. Miller ‏@djspooky  tweets today--

"You do not need to be normal. You do not need to be mainstream…"  
http://www.djspooky.com/antarctica/

I sometimes forget this. Enjoy your day.

World Climate Change Milestone

Have you seen this news?  It's an important milestone for us all to take note.  I call this a climate game changer!  Our sea, the animal kingdom, our weather and numerous consequences are upon us.  Be kind, stay aware.  What if our thoughts and feelings influence how we successfully shift this potential threat to the planet, and therefore ourselves?

Climate Collision Course: CO2 Levels About to Hit 400 PPM

In a first in human history, "it looks like the world is going to blow through the 400-ppm level without losing a beat."

- Andrea Germanos, staff writer

Published on Monday, April 29, 2013 by Common Dreams

Most people don’t understand climate change very well- including me

I'm learning as I go, in order to better understand Antarctica and Climate Change.

Here's a short article, from Grist ( a Beacon in the Smog)--widely Tweeted and Liked on Facebook about why we need to pay attention.

AND from TakePart.com

The provocatively-titled new film- ‘Greedy Lying Bastards’ takes on America’s anti-science movement.

AND  1 in 5 students say they understand climate science from NPR.org

Bob Inglis: the Republican who believes in climate change

I don't focus on the polarization of climate change in the politics.  But, I apparently that's naive.  I understand the term global warming was changed primarily by Republicans to climate change some years ago.  Bob Inglis went to Antarctica in 2006 and saw climate change first hand.  In my research an experience, the Ice seems to have a message no matter what your politics! 'In an interview with Yale Environment 360 editor Roger Cohn, Inglis talked about his own evolution from being a climate change denier.'  http://bit.ly/16xLsLp

Ozone Hole Low in 2012!

I admire Susan Solomon for her remarkable work identifying the cause of the ozone hole (atmospheric thinning), in Antarctica.  What an individual and collective success story!  2012 shows the thinning of the atmosphere lower than in the past 10 years.    This is due primarily to the banning of  Chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere from aerosol-spray propellants, refrigerants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents.

Susan is quoted in The Boise weekly-  "I think the difficulty that some people have in relating to environmental change has something to do with the fact that an awful lot of people spend their lives not really noticing the natural world around them."  

I wholeheartedly agree.  My partner and I are outdoors more than ever, camping and retailing kaleidoscopes at Art Fairs.  What a difference to make part of your living and working outside.  Antarcticans (people who visit and love the continent have a love of the outdoors too!

Antarctica and Clues from Space

I think of abundance, when I see these headlines, read these stories.  I hope that these findings will ultimately help the human race.

Huge meteorite found, largest in 25 years in East Antarctica

Salty Antarctic Pond May Hold Clues to Water on Mars.   and speaking of water, did you know about finding water in moon rocks?

 A year ago, I was just back from the South Continents. I retook the journey in my body and soul. A life changing year, so much learning.  This is my 100th post.

Inside a Meteorite

It's easy to spot meteorites in Antarctica.  I recently learned, from CBS Sunday Morning show, about their color inside. 

This is a meteorite picture through a microscope. The actual image is 2mm. 

Our Henry Bergeson Kaleidoscopes remind me of the inside of meteorites. 
What a beautiful and unexpected surprise to find a connection between my Antarctic work and my partner Henry's kaleidoscopes!

Celebrating My First Trip to Antarctica, 2/15/2012

I'm forever changed by my trip to Antarctica. The date is easy to remember because it's Sir Ernest Shackleton's birthday. I hardly slept or ate while I was there. Our starting point was Russia's Bellinghausen scientific base. The trip utilizes cooperation between Argentina, Chile and Russia. Every cell in my body remembers the sweet stillness from the lack of thought forms. Not to mention the grandeur of the landscape. I'm honored to be a person to have gone to the bottom of the earth. Thanks and blessings to those who supported my journey through donations. My working book title is We are All Antarctica: Adventures of the First Black Explorer on the Icy Continent. I'm told it will definitely change. I do have another title in mind. It's a challenging project, but I'm making progress. Have an amazing day!

Kate Upton in Antarctica

A little mainstream news on Valentine's Day! Last year this time, I was in a meeting to find out whether our plane would fly to Antarctica the next day. I never imagined, a year later, that a super model would be (in Antarctica) on the cover of Sports Illustrated in a bikini! It looks like the beach I was on (wink), and it's cold. Kate, you're brave!

Antarctica's Future

To date, Antarctica's history consumes most my research time.  There's plenty to learn about the USASE (Admiral Richard E. Byrd's III expedition to the South Pole), in order to keep writing.

I'm happy to say my brain is now tuned to future possibilities of our amazing continent. 
See this video about the robot in design to explore Lake Vostok , The Lost World. 
It may be 5 years to launch!  Go about 5 minutes into the video to see the robot plans and animation.

Colleen O'Connor Wins CABJ Award for Frozen in Time!

It's been almost a year since I left for Antarctica.  I woke up this time last year, wondering what the Denver Post article was going to say.  Colleen said "baring a major world event, I'd be on the front page."  Since it was SuperBowl weekend, I wasn't expecting it!  Congratulations to Denver Post's extraordinary writer, Colleen O'Connor for writing this story- Frozen in Time. Last August, I was at the Colorado Association of Black Journalists banquet to see her receive the award.

Sea LIfe Buried in Antarctica?

Exciting news released today in our Amazing Planet, about water trapped deep in Antarctica may have life!  From US scientists, about 800 meters down.  The Scientist reported the samples taken this morning.

More information probably coming from the Russian's ice core samples from 4,000 meters below the ice.  I'm especially interested in their findings, because I stayed in Bellinghausen, the Russian Base on King George Island.  Just a random, fun synchronicity :-)

George Gibbs Entry into American National Biography Online

Author and Polar Historian, Glenn M. Stein calls today.  "Hello Leilani! I'm looking at the new published entry for George W. Gibbs Jr., in the American National Biography. "Google it!"

Here's the link.  Happy 2013 MLK Holiday weekend.

Full Solar Eclipse and New Moon Today!

I'm watching it live in Australia now.  Beautiful beach, just passed the peak.  It's probably seen over Antarctica too.  Finishes about 500 miles west of Chile.  Celebrating celestial events helps me connect with nature.  The cats are both sunning themselves in unlikely spots as if they are soaking up the energy of this planetary experience. 

Here's a post with a beautiful pic. 

Magnificent To Behold

I just got down from the helicopter and we are downloading images now.
From 8000 feet, above the 7000-foot cloud deck, the corona plus the diamond rings were impressive. All too quick but magnificent to behold.
--Dr. Jay M. Pasachoff, director, Hopkins Observatory, Williams College

Article in the Mountain Connection Today

The Mountain  Connection only has hard copies of my short article.  If you live in our community, it's on page 8.  Their online site is www.mtnconnection.com.(but the article isn't posted)  I'll scan and post it later.
 I love their tagline "Building Community Through Conversation"

If you are reading my blog for the first time,  the beginning posts of Antarctica are during  last half of February.  When I started blogging, I wasn't working very much.  Now, I'm consistently traveling for other work. I find it challenging to research and blog.

My next radio show on KGNU Denver Boulder 8:30am MDT
(kgnu.org, 1390am and 88.5 FM) is on August 31st with Polar Historian Glenn Marty Stein.  I hope you're having a great summer in the northern hemisphere!