Anne Hansen's "Oystercatcher Chronicles"

A Likin’ For Lichens: A species named after Henry Kock, horticulturist extraordinaire (1952-2005)

annehansen — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:29:41 +0000

“New lichen species named for U of G tree guru Henry Kock (Guelph Mercury, Dec 18/11):

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/641081–new-lichen-species-named-for-u-of-g-tree-guru-henry-kock

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Victoria, B.C. artist Anne Hansen, who is well-known for her paintings (http://oystercatchergirl.blogspot.com) of the black oystercatcher (a shorebird), has just purchased the scientific-naming rights of a newly-discovered lichen, in a fundraising initiative of the Ancient Forest Alliance (http://www.ancientforestalliance.com).

Henry Kock, May 2005, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario

She will name the lichen after her deceased husband, Henry Kock, horticulturist and author of Growing Trees from Seed (Firefly Books, 2008). The book was completed by his botanical colleagues after his death. Kock (pronounced “Coke”) was the public face of the Arboretum at the University of Guelph for 20 years. He died of brain cancer on December 25, 2005. Hansen moved from Ontario to BC in 2007.

Anne says, “Henry was a tireless champion of biodiversity and inconspicuous species like toads, lichens and sedges. Organic gardening became his life’s work after an unfortunate early vocational exposure to pesticides. Many native gardens throughout Ontario owe their existence to Henry’s classes at the Arboretum and his travelling presentations to nature clubs. His own garden, which he transformed from lawn to forest, was dubbed the Hotel of the Trees. In his legendary slide shows, he referred to his suburban yard as a bed and breakfast for migrating songbirds.”

Henry Kock established the Elm Recovery Project at the Arboretum, which now bears his name, as does a new greenhouse on the University of Guelph campus.

“I feel like I got a bargain!” says Hansen. “Many people go into debt in December, for toys and gadgets that will soon be obsolete. Lichens have been around since ancient biological times. If we do something fast about climate change, lichens will be here far into the future. Naming a species after a beloved forest defender is my idea of a fabulous solstice celebration. I’m not the only one who’s noticed that the lichen looks like Henry’s beard!”

– 30 –

Contact:

Anne Hansen

(250) 381-7313

anitabike@gmail.com

More to follow in the print media. See University of Guelph announcement: http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2011/12/santa_claus_con.html

The discoverer of the “new” lichen is Trevor Goward, Curator of Lichens at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia (trevor.goward@botany.ubc.ca). Thank you, Trevor! Here is more on Trevor: http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/2010/11/meet-the-man-behind-the-clearwater-project-trevor-goward/

See this article on Henry Kock from a year ago: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/article/310683–carollers-gather-to-remember-tireless-environmentalist

Anne Hansen gratefully acknowledges $1000 donated by a generous friend toward the lichen-naming.

Art Not Jails

annehansen — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:54:05 +0000

: “California Quail #1,” by Anne Hansen (72″ x 18″)

Prime Minister Harper:

Re: “He who opens a school door closes a prison.” — Victor Hugo

I have just attended a public forum on your proposed crime legislation organized by Denise Savoie, my member of parliament, and her staff.

As a voter and taxpayer, I am deeply offended that your government is attacking the integrity of the Elizabeth Fry Society and others in the helping professions who have expressed concerns about Bill C-10.

Your mandate is to destroy the ingredients that prevent crime. These include universal daycare, early childhood education, libraries, employment skills development, employment insurance, pensions, affordable housing, legal aid, public parks, and cultural programs for the arts and music.

Bill C-10 would represent a huge theft of taxpayer resources from the above necessities for Canadians.

Canada is particularly shamed by its over-representation of First Nations people in our prisons (and absence of white-collar criminals).

If high incarceration rates are good for public safety, then the USA ought to be the safest place in the world.

Please explain why you would lock up even more people who would otherwise thrive, if not deprived of the social programs you are destroying.

Yours truly

Anne Hansen, Victoria, BC

When the rich steal from the poor, it’s called “business”. When the poor fight back, it’s “violence”.

annehansen — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:48:18 +0000

Hold Oakland police accountable!

To: cityadministrator@oaklandnet.com, pkernighan@oaklandnet.com, nnadel@oaklandnet.com, idelafuente@oaklandnet.com, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com

Mayor Jean Quan & Council, City of Oakland, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612

Mayor Quan and Councillors:

I live in British Columbia, Canada, and have had the pleasure of visiting Oakland and the Bay Area on several occasions as a tourist. I have enjoyed fine dining and theatre in Oakland. As an artist and photographer, I have derived inspiration from your region’s natural beauty and cultural offerings.

However, I join with the international community in outrage over the Oakland police force’s brutal treatment of the Occupy participants. These are peaceful, unarmed people from all walks of life, including teachers, nurses, secretaries, artists, book club members, soccer moms, journalists, bike commuters, retirees, and software engineers.

Particularly distressing is the widely publicized case of Scott Olsen, a former U.S. marine who has served twice in Iraq. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, video footage verifies Olsen being knocked to the ground at 14^th Street & Broadway after police lobbed what may have been a tear gas canister in his direction. When his friends came to his aid, the police tossed another canister in Olsen’s direction. He is in serious condition in hospital with a fractured skull and may require brain surgery.

All the world is watching Oakland. It is unlikely that I will make Oakland my tourist destination again, thanks to your City’s violent treatment of its peacefully-assembled residents.

I ask what action you are going to take as Mayor, to hold your police officers accountable for the widespread human rights violations they have perpetrated in recent days. Will you enact immediate measures to ensure the safety and freedom of the Occupiers? Your police’s conduct is inexcusable and has turned away this tourist.

Yours truly

Anne Hansen, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8V 1B3

"Oystercatchers #244" (San Francisco Oystercatchers), by Anne Hansen (36" x 60")

Make Beacon Hill Park car-free!

annehansen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:13:41 +0000

Steller's Jays #1, by Anne Hansen (30" x 24")

Dear Mayor Fortin and Councillors:

I just read in the Times Colonist that you are considering measures to reduce the number of cars in Beacon Hill Park.

Fantastic!

I am taking the liberty of quoting American author Edward Abbey, whose sentiments I share:

“No more cars in national parks. Let the people walk. Or ride horses, bicycles, mules, wild pigs — anything — but keep the automobiles and the motorcycles and all their motorized relatives out. We have agreed not to drive our automobiles into cathedrals, concert halls, art museums, legislative assemblies, private bedrooms and the other sanctums of our culture; we should treat our national parks with the same deference, for they, too, are holy places.”

Beacon Hill isn’t a national park, but it’s just as precious as Jasper, for example. Public policy already accommodates and glorifies the private automobile to an absurd level. It’s time to boot them out of our beautiful parks!

Anne Hansen

Occupy Victoria!

annehansen — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:23:38 +0000

Something fishy in Clayoquot Sound

annehansen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:57:48 +0000

"Oystercatchers #267", by Anne Hansen (28" x 22")

Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, premier@gov.bc.ca

Christy Clark:

I am an artistof coastal landscapes, and resident of Victoria, BC.

Recently I had the privilege of kayaking to Meares Island in Clayoquot Sound, to stand in the presence of some of the world’s most magnificent trees.

Clayoquot Sound is a national treasure and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, dependent on healthy salmon runs that in turn fertilize the forest. Salmon populations in Clayoquot Sound have been declining, largely because of the presence of the salmon farm industry.

There are already 22 open net feedlots in the Biosphere Reserve at Clayoquot Sound. Mainstream Canada, one of the largest global aquaculture companies, wants to build another new, gigantic fish feedlot in the heart of the Clayoquot, adjacent to a thriving Chinook spawning river. The waste from the new “farm” would pollute the surrounding ocean ecosystem.

This crazy scheme will have devastating impacts on the region’s already stressed wild salmon stocks. The peer-reviewedscience linking sea lice and disease outbreaks to declines in wild salmon stocks all over the world is irrefutable.

As a taxpayer and voter, I demand that you stop this project. Will the provincial government take a leadership role on this issue and deny Mainstream Canada’s tenure request?

Yours truly

Anne Hansen

Mayday! Mayday! May in May!

annehansen — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:03:41 +0000

Oystercatchers #250, by Anne Hansen (20" x 16")

Here’s a recent letter to Driftwood (a Gulf Islands publication) from Lois Sprague of Salt Spring Island:

There are three excellent women running for election in this riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, competing with each other to split the vote and hand the seat to the Conservatives one more time.

Last election almost a million Canadians voted Green. They deserve to be represented; and that Party deserves a seat in Parliament. This riding is the best bet in the nation for that.

For a better Canada we need cooperation, which often involves compromise. The polls (and lawn signs) indicate that Elizabeth May is the most likely person to beat Mr Lunn. Therefore, I recommend that the supporters of the Liberals and NDP, just this once, switch their vote to get Elizabeth May into Parliament.

Lois Sprague

*****

Here’s Oystercatchergirl with Elizabeth May at the salmon rally to protest the BC and federal government’s promotion of fish farming. It was taken on May 1st, the day before the historic election of Elizabeth as Canada’s first Green Party member of parliament.

Photo courtesy of Jacques Sirois

I’m giving ”Oystercatchers #248″ as a gift to Elizabeth May. It presently hangs in the campaign office in Sidney, BC.

“Elizabeth May getting elected was the only realistic hope that I had for the election. She deserves it and she’ll do well. I hope she doesn’t find it too disheartening, hanging around in the sandbox with all of those children.” — Chris Sprague, Guelph, ON

"Oystercatchers #248" by Anne Hansen (48" x 12")

Our leader, who art in Ottawa,
Hollow be thy promises.
Thy dictatorship come,
Thy will be done
In the House of Commons as it is in the Senate.

Give us this day our daily oil spill,
And forgive us our votes for the NDP,
As we forgive the dolts who voted for you.
And lead us not into another election,
but deliver us from democracy.

Amen

Join me this weekend (Apr 16 & 17, noon to 4:30) on the Oak Bay Artists’ Studio Tour (2260 Dalhousie Street, Victoria)!

annehansen — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:48:54 +0000

"Oystercatchers #245", by Anne Hansen (18" x 72")

Include Elizabeth May in leaders’ debates!

annehansen — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:54:06 +0000

This sent to: programming@ctva.ca; ombudsman@cbc.ca; ombudsman@radio-canada.ca

Hello:

As a voter, taxpayer, and media-watcher, I am very distressed at the arbitrary decision to prohibit Elizabeth May from participating in the national leaders’ debate.

I am sick and tired of Elizabeth May being blamed for the shortcomings of our electoral system. She is the worthy leader of a popular national party that garnered almost one million votes or 7% of the national vote last election. Unlike what may be considered the “fringe parties”, the Green Party is fielding candidates in all 308 federal ridings. The Green Party is serious, and we as voters are serious about hearing their election platform.

It’s not clear why your ”conglomerate” is taking orders from Stephen Harper. I join with Canadians – Green-voters or not — who are making it perfectly clear that their idea of a democracy would include federal Green leader Elizabeth May in the national debates. Honor her rightful seat at the table!

Yours truly
Anne Hansen
Victoria, BC

No Fuca’n Way! Save the Juan de Fuca hiking trail.

annehansen — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:57:50 +0000

"Oystercatchers #242", by Anne Hansen (48" x 12")

This from Zoe Blunt of Vancouver Island Forest Action Network (see “Cougar Annie” entry, below):

This Thursday March 3 is the first of two chances to comment officially on the resort proposal. Time for all of us to speak out! The Capital Regional District (CRD) is hosting a public info and comment session 7 pm at Edward Milne School, 6218 Sooke Road, in Sooke. Let’s pack the room and show them how we feel. Ender Ilkay, the developer, is expected to be there. There are carpools available from Victoria and Langford. To offer a ride or reserve a seat, please contact
zoe@wildcoast.ca.

Public comments will be accepted until the public hearing in May. That will be the final opportunity to be heard by local government officials. Please send your comments today! The contact form and talking points about problems with the resort proposal are here:
http://wildernesscommittee.org/write_wild_protect_the_juan_de_fuca_marine_trail_development