Hollywood2020: Earth To Human Ecotrip

Hollywood2020 Blogger Looks back to Earth To Human EcoTrip 06

SO what were YOU doing last summer at this time? Blogger Joyce Schwarz, www.hollywood2020.blogs.com was on a trip to Newfoundland courtesy of Horizon Tours and the Canadian Parks and Newfoundland Tourism to explore the challenges of fighting off what we had termed VIDEOPHELIA -- the constant exploitation of all things video instead of the outdoors. Here's an excerpt from those postings from 2006. Enjoy. (NOTE, the Earth To Human trip is being repeated again and offered to the public in August 2007...for more info go to the link below the tour description here:

NEWFOUNDLAND - Earth to Human with David Maggs

Shine the light of culture, history and ecology on what it means to be human with this journey through the staggering beauty of UNESCO-protected Gros Morne National Park. From magical performances of music and theatre to sagas of Norsemen and sailing the fjords, this intellectual and sensory exploration of Newfoundland in the company of artists and experts will leave you charmed and enlightened.

Click here for a detailed itinerary DATES AUG 20-25, 2007

July 20, 2006

EARTH TO HUMAN ECO TOUR REVEALS POV (POINT OF VIEW) IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

POV (POINT OF VIEW) is in the 'eye of the beholder'...walking through the woods of Newfoundland on the Earth To Human Eco-tour (www.earthtohuman.com) this week it's becoming clear that seeing is different for each human being.

TOM SAWYER'S ISLAND DISNEYLAND: brings up a raft of questions!

Talking to David Maggs,the co-creator of the Earth to Human Eco-experience, I'm on this week , I realize that my experience of walking into the woods in Newfoundland's Gros Morne National park and feeling transported to Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland is not as outrageous as I feared! Our frame of reference to the environment and our eco-attitude depends on many factors and is influenced by our past experiences and our expectations.

GO AHEAD AND CHECK GOOGLE for "Tom Sawyer's Island" and you'll find many references to the Disney attraction as travel writer's describe their rafting trips as a cross between x and Disney's Tom Sawyer Island. According to some reports I read online "Tom's Island' is the only attraction at Disneyland that Walt Disney designed himself. Walt was originally from Missouri just like Mark Twain. And according to the web posts I saw, Walt saw the original drawings for the island and took them home and returned the next day with his own vision of what the island should look like. Blog trivia note--according to www.mickeynews.com, the premiere of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN SEQUEL was on Tom Sawyer Island. It seems that the Disney promo people put up a giant screen on the Island and projected the movie on that because it's just across the way from the new "Pirates" ride at the park.

So that means that premiere VIP's headed to the island not to look for Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer or Becky or "Injun Joe" but rather DEAD MAN'S CHEST..and of course the stars of Pirates.

Talk about FAUX experiences --- Hollywood celebs head to Disneyland to see a movie about pirates projected from the screen erected on the island. Hmm I wonder how many of them even know who Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn is/was?

FOOD & SHELTER ...is a play written by Jane Anderson "Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio" that I saw years ago premiere at ACT (American Conservatory Theatre" San Francisco. The tale revolves around a homeless dad who wins $100 and takes his family to Disneyland where at the end of the day they hang out in a treehouse on Frontierland. (Blogger note, trivia sites for Disneyland hint that Disney security dudes check out areas like Tom Sawyer island with dogs that sniff out any potential stowaways at the end of each night at the park.)

Which brings me back to the reel versus real treatise that I keep exploring here. On this trip, several times I've stopped to explain what ARGs are to fellow travelers both in reference to their potential as promo for travel & tourism attractions and as the challenge to gain media and viewer attention for the REAL OUTDOORS...not the simulated location based entertainment venues.

Tomorrow I'll do some comparison photos from this trip between the reel and the real. Showing scenes that may astound even the most eco-savvy traveler.

On location in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Joyce Schwarz, author and emerging media & entertainment columnist/analyst looking at the difference between place and space and of course real vs reel! Please email me with questions and comments or go ahead and post your comments at the end of this blog. Have you ever had that same feeling, that something that you're seeing for the first time in REAL life reminds you of a reel (video, TV, game) experience? Let me know if you agree that it's time to stamp out Videophilia?

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 20, 2006 at 08:30 PM | Permalink

NEWFOUNDLAND - Earth to Human with David Maggs

Shine the light of culture, history and ecology on what it means to be human with this journey through the staggering beauty of UNESCO-protected Gros Morne National Park. From magical performances of music and theatre to sagas of Norsemen and sailing the fjords, this intellectual and sensory exploration of Newfoundland in the company of artists and experts will leave you charmed and enlightened.

Click here for a detailed itinerary DATES AUG 20-25, 2007

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 23, 2007 at 06:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Blogger Joyce Schwarz Pix in National Geo Article on EARTH TO HUMAN TRIP.....

EARTH TO HUMAN....remember the trip this blogger took last year to Newfoundland...to fight off what we had been writing about called "VIDEOPHELIA? -- too much video/too much internet etc?

Earthtones - great article in NATIONAL GEO TRAVELER on EARTH TO HUMAN TRIP....

Blogged by Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020.blogs.com. Well good news, the wonderful feature article about this trip was just printed in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, CANADA....here's the link:

Canadian Geographic Travel Magazine - Earth to Human Eco Tour - May 1, 2007

ALSO don't miss your opportunity to take this trip this year-- it's set for August 2007 ---Click here to download a detailed itinerary of the 2007 trip.

One of the great places to stay on the EARTH TO HUMAN ecotrip @ www.horizons-co.com.

Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020.blogs.com pix in CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL with story and photography by Nance Ackerman.

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 05, 2007 at 09:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE EARTH TO HUMAN ECOTRIP TO NEWFOUNDLAND'S WESTERN PENINSULA

INTRAVELMAG.COM features a great day-by-day recap of the eco-trip that blogger Joyce Schwarz took earlier this summer. (Search Earth To Human in our blog index on www.hollywood2020.blogs.com for our own coverage to date). The Intravelmag.com article is by Christina Kay Bolton who manages to capture the essence of the Horizon & Co. (www.horizon-co.com) personalized touch to boutique travel. Here's a link to the online zine http://www.intravelmag.com/

Horizon & Co's EARTH TO HUMAN eco-trip is featured on www.intravelmag.com this month.

INTRAVELMAG.com talks about some of the locations pictures in blogger Joyce Schwarz album of the adventure including:

Port-aux-Choix & Philips Garden archeological site of Dorsets --Paleoeskimo people...

Philips Garden, archological site in Port-aux-Chois Newfoundland was one of the most interesting stops on the Horizon & Co. Earth To Human eco-trip.photo Joyce Schwarz

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site in Newfoundland, Canada.

Photo of Viking sod longhouse, re-creation by travel writer Joyce Schwarz. Note the mystical aura captured in the pix that one traveler said was caused by Ancient Viking vibes!

VIKING SOD LONG HOUSE entryway photo by travel writer/photographer Joyce Schwarz

Viking sod longhouse re-creation was another stop on the Horizon & Co. Earth To Human eco-trip created by David Maggs, Newfoundlander who is also Artistic Director of the Gros Morne Music Festival. The Earth To Human trip is featured this month at www.intravelmag.com.

Click on thumbnail to see gorgeous view from Bonne Bay Marine Station in Norris Point Newfoundland....photo by travel writer and photographer Joyce Schwarz

SCREECHING IN PROGRESS:

On your first trip to Newfoundland beware...you will probably end up being Screeched...and even get to kiss a COD! Horizon & Co. ecotrip participants were no exception to this traditional ceremony held at the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River, Newfoundland....photo by Joyce Schwarz, travel writer & photographer.

FOR MORE INFO ON NEWFOUNDLAND GO TO: www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com or check out the other upcoming adventure trips by boutique travel group Horizon & Co. at www.horizon-co.com

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on September 01, 2006 at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

ECO-PSYCHOLOGY EARTH TO HUMAN ECOTRIP -- LINKS LIVING CREATURES, EARTH & UNIVERSE

LINKING ALL CREATURES--with each other, the earth and the whole universe is no easy feat...but on the final day of the Earth To Human eco-trip (www.earthtohuman.com), Dr. Michael Newton focused on that challenge.

(Dr. Newton beginning to weave the "web of life" during the Earth To Human www.earthtohuman.com) ecotrip in Newfoundland.)

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER....

Click on thumbnails to see the web of twine and the Earth To Human group in process.

Dr. Newton talks about the exercise http://blomidon.blogspot.com/

"My role in this endeavour? I was to tie up the week's experience. I did that literally by having all the participants share their impressions and then passing or throwing a ball of twine to the next person until we had a web that represented the web of life that links all living creatures together with each other, the earth and the whole universe."

SPIRITUALITY & EARTH
The earthtohuman.com website explains that "As professor of Religious Studies at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, Newton shares his enthusiasm for the environment in a course entitled "Spirituality and the Earth".

File photo from Earthtohuman.com eco-trip showing polination in process...from earth to sky to flora to fauna to birds and bees....

Thanks to Dr. Newton for his insights and for his link to this blogger:

Check out the blog of one of the travel writers, Joyce Schwarz, who accompanied us for her perspective of the trip:

This post is continues a series of recaps on the EARTHTOHUMAN.com eco-trip that blogger and travel writer Joyce Schwarz joined on the Western Peninsula of Newfoundland. The experience was organized by David Maggs, artistic directcor of the Gros Mourne Music Festival in conjunction with boutique travel firm Horizon & Co, Parks Canada and Newfoundland Tourism. For more information email: [email protected]

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on August 04, 2006 at 12:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

SIGNS & POSTERS -- NEWFOUNDLAND FAVES IMPRINT ON THE MIND & MEMORY -- EARTH TO HUMAN -- INANIMATE OFTEN MORE ANIMATED THAN HUMAN?

THE ANCIENT PROVERB SAYS A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS...yet, I find it's some times the signs and posters that tell even more about a place-- in fact, they are the things that make a space a place...they brand it, they show the curves and bends in the roads and give character to what at first seems like tourist markings. Here are this blogger (Joyce Schwarz) favorite signs and posters from her recent Newfoundland trip with the theme "EARTH TO HUMAN":

The wording on this t-shirt seemed to reflect the trip and the times:

"ADVENTURE IS NOT HANGING ON A ROPE ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN.Adventure is an attitude which must apply to every part of our lives. Facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and unpredictable and in the process discovering our own unique potential" from Raid the North Extreme (thanks to Dr. Michael Newton for wearing the T shirt and being an inspiration to many of us on this trip!) Raid the North Extreme: The Pinnacle of Adventure Racing in Canada.

A TRULY BONNE BAY!

Bonne Bay, Newfoundland Marine Center poster-- captures the luminescence of this wonderful province and seems to hint at the potential for EARTH TO HUMAN as on the eco-trip!

Bonne Bay Marine Station

A world-class research and teaching facility, the Bonne Bay Marine Station on ... and research laboratories, library/resource centre, multimedia theatre, ...
www.bonnebay.mun.ca/ - 17k - Cached -

THE KING OF NEWFOUNDLAND?

we kiddingly called entrepreneur, Bruce Martin, "the KING OF NEWFOUNDLAND" -- he seemed to be the sharp operator of tour bus lines, school buses, ambulances, and even headstone services. Robert Jenkins, writer for the St. Petersburg Times agrees Marin knows who & where & when as the writer says "Bruce and Irene Martin have expanded the family's business to include bus charters, tours, taxis, car-rentals and even school-bus routes. Natives of the west coast, they pretty much know everyone and everything worth seeing. Call 709 453-2207 or (709) 458-7315; fax to (709) 453-7269; e-mail [email protected] "

LOBSTER TRAPS WERE EVERYWHERE BUT NO LOBSTERS WERE SIGHTED -- except at the Bonne Bay Marine Center...darn -- it was not lobster season so my visions of lobster salad and buttered lobster were in vain. In fact though, in one location (not to be named) lobsters for our group were ordered special and alas, someone stole them before our hostess could get them to her kitchen!

Lobster traps for sale....in Newfoundland....According to one of our favorite sources -- WIKIPEDIA: "A piece of bait, often fish, is placed inside the trap. The entrances to the traps are designed to be one-way entrances only. The traps are checked every other day by the fisherman and rebaited if necessary. One study indicated that lobster traps are very inefficient and that almost all lobsters walk right out of them.

How about this sign in your front yard - found in Newfoundland!

Woody Point, population 400 -- what more do you have to say? In color it's a million times prettier though!.

NO BUTS ABOUT IT -- on the other side of the building the logo is for Coke-- guess Newfoundland has not heard about exclusive sponsorship rights yet??

No, we did not finish the Triathalon...but then again we didn't start it either?Check the link below to see who did!

Corner Brook Triathlon

International triathlon competition featuring ITU triathlon world cup event.
www.triourworld.com/ - 17k - Cached -

YDF -- is the airline lingo for Deer Lake Newfoundland-- don't forget it!

NO HUNTING ALLOWED....

.this sign says it all...except shouldn't it be orange to be more visible?

Continuing a series of posts by blogger Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020.blogs.com regarding the Eco-trip/experience EARTH TO HUMAN arranged by Horizon & Co, David Maggs (artistic director of the Gros Morne Music Festival, Parks Canada and Newfoundland Tourism. For more info email Joyce at [email protected].

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 26, 2006 at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Joyce Schwarz On Location Ringing in Greetings to Newfoundland at Mini Museum in Woody Point

RINGING IN GREETINGS TO NEWFOUNDLAND is blogger and emerging media and entertainment expert Joyce Schwarz. Shown on locationat WOODY POINT mini-museum where she explored a history of telecommunications of Newfoundland. She's shown trying to figure out which end of the phone is up or down in this JPEG.

DIAL-UP.....wow is it still around. Although the Internet now connects even outpost communities and far flung locations like Woody Point Newfoundland, many connections this blogger encountered were still dial up. Some wireless -- but wireless dial-up. High speed is still rolling into these areas. A display of old-fashioned phones and telecom equipment at the Woody Point mini-museum reminds readers that phones have indeed evolved over the past century. What will they look like next century...well, keep reading and you'll see that we will flash forward to show you more about that. Meanwhile peek at this JPEG from the Woody Point mini-museum.

JPEG shows phones throughout the century-- even far flung communities like Newfoundland wants the latest tech to connect them to the future.

Entrepreneur Bruce Martin gave the Earth To Human group a private tour of Woody Point Newfoundland. Photosof the historic homes and roads are pictured in this blog.

No Buts about it -- one side of the signage o this store promotes Pepsi the other side Coke-- got to keep your options open when you're in Newfoundland!

Selling firewood on the honor sysem in Newfoundland....that kind of trust is just typical of the warmth you get in Newfoundland from the Newfies!

Closest we got to seeing a movie theatre in Woody Point, Newfoundland-- a collection of century old home 'movie viewers' on display at the mini-museum. Available on demand -- the early tech must have fascinated outposts and far flung areas like Newfoundland a century ago-- since it was surely admired by city folk as next-gen entertainment began to replace old-fashioned storytelling around the world in the 19th and early 20th Century.

blogger Joyce Schwarz was on location in Newfoundland to explore the relatioship of culture in a sustainable society. Flashbacks to early technology and the importance of emerging media like the Internet and ArticNet (used in exploring Artic areas) became key during the experience. Stay tuned for more info about Earth To Human (www.earthtohuman.com) or go to Horizon & Co www.horizon-co.com to see about other adventure experiences they have that will flip you out of your own fishbowl of the city.

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 24, 2006 at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

EARTH TO HUMAN NEWFIE NEWBIES NAMED TO ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS

THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS-- NEWFOUNDLAND TRADITION requires that newbies (first time visitors) to Newfoundland be initiated in the ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS.

Here are some photos from the Initiation ceremonies held at the Seaside Restaurant for the Earth To Human (www.earthtohuman) experience group. Note Joyce Schwarz, Hollywood2020.blogs.com blogger was on hand to participate in the festivities and to document them for the group. If you are part of THE ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS, please send details or add comments about your initiation ceremony. If not, then it's up to you to get to Newfoundland for your initiation experience and to join immediately. It is a must see/must experience evening that you cannot miss if you are a true world-wide traveler. The true GOLDEN ELIXIR of Newfoundland -- SCREECH....

A front lawn sign captured by Joyce Schwarz in Newfoundland-- seemed appropriate for the opening to this post on The Royal Order of Screechers.

Aunt Sophie --preciding officer for the ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS initiation ceremonies for the EARTH TO HUMAN eco-tour.

Colorful yellow rain-gear is the perfect attire for your ROYAL ORDER OF SCREECHERS ceremony -- so be prepared and bring your own or borrow some prior to your Screecher event in Newfoundland.

Did anyone tell you that you look VERY different before and after your Royal Order of Screechers ceremony in Newfoundland...name withheld of person pictured --all we can tell you is he is definitely a SCREECHER.

Sure hope that what happens in Newfoundland, stays in Newfoundland...Screecher ceremony pictured in progress.

And you thought only the Blue Man group was blue...you've got to get to Newfoundland to meet Screechers undergoing transformation -- one Screecherand one Newfie caught prior to the ceremony here in this JPEG. Click on thumbnail to see more BLUENESS.

Newfies and visitors await Screecher ceremony with much enthusiasm.

Be sure to bring proof of previous visit to Newfoundland-- or you may be subject to initiation again and again. This couple from Ottawa, Canada was on hand for our Screecher ceremony. And they seem to enjoy the festivities.

Even the Newfie pictured in the Lath art on the wall of the ceremony wall had to turn his back to avoid being pulled into the ceremony for the Royal Order of Screechers -- amazing art, amazing Province -- Newfoundland-- come for the scenery but meet the people-- both are unforgetable.

All Screechers join together to commemorate evening after the ceremony of The Royal OrdNoer of Screechers for the Earth To Human tour. Not pictured blogger Joyce Schwarz who is taking pix (of course).

Posted by Joyce Schwarz on July 24, 2006 at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)