Who cares about the Forest?
by Franke James
“Who cares about the Forest?” is the question author/artist Franke James’ explores in her creative personal story for the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada. Franke is the author of Bothered By My Green Conscience which merges science, art and storytelling to inspire people to take action and “do the hardest thing first” for the planet.
The visual essay is below. You can also watch it as an animated video.
Credits:
Who cares about the Forest? © 2011 Franke James
Special thanks to the Forest Stewardship Council Canada for sponsoring this story.
And sincere appreciation to the following people and organizations for their contribution to the story:
Russell Diabo, Algonquin of Barriere Lake; Michelle White, Chapters Indigo; Drew Tremblay, Domtar; Richard Brooks, Greenpeace Canada; Peter Street, Nipissing Forest Resource Management; Roy Summers, Local Activist, North Bay Area; Eric Paradis, RONA; Nicolas Lecomte, FSC Auditor, SmartWood; Karen Whistler-Clark, TD Bank Financial Group; Chris McDonell, Elaine Marchand, Patrick Garneau, Tembec; Warren Spitz, Upper Canada Forest Products; Chief Harry St. Denis, Wolf Lake First Nations; Monte Hummel, WWF-Canada;
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Photographs, illustrations and writing by Franke James, except as noted:
“The Boreal Forest is Our Tap” illustration by Franke James, features a photo © D. Langhorst, Ducks Unlimited, from “A Forest of Blue” Pew Environment Group
The World’s Biggest Carbon Bank illustration by Franke James, features a Boreal wetlands photo © Chad Delany, from “A Forest of Blue” Pew Environment Group
Caribou photo © Valerie Courtois, from “A Forest of Blue” Pew Environment Group
“Lungs of the Planet” illustration by Franke James uses a source image © istockphotos; Owl and Snail illustrations use source photos © istockphotos.
Additional photos from FSC-Canada archive.
Featured books:
The Flopsy Bunnies by Beatrix Potter, published in 1909 by F. Warne & Co.
Bothered by My Green Conscience by Franke James, published by New Society Publishers
Research and Resources:
A Forest of Blue: Canada’s Boreal Forest, the World’s Waterkeeper Pew Environment Group
The Boreal Forest Adventure: Cooking Like Mother Nature by Nicolas Lecomte, Biol., PhD (Mother Nature’s Recipes available as a download.)
Turning Up the Heat: Global Warming and the Degradation of Canada’s Boreal Forest, by Christy Ferguson, Elizabeth A. Nelson and Geoff G. Sherman; Greenpeace Canada, March 2008
“The Forest Stewardship Council is the only certification system currently supported by Greenpeace. Products or pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have been given an environmental stamp of approval. The FSC certification system, which involves a third party audit of forest operations, is the only guarantee of sustainably managed forests.”
Produced by The James Gang by Franke James and Billiam James, FSC®-CAN-0031, for FSC Canada
65 Responses: 30 Comments and 35 Tweets
Twitter: 18 (Showing 35)
- Franke James @frankejames
Who cares about the #Forest? See Video http://bit.ly/WhoCaresForestvid And Visual Essay: http://bit.ly/WhoCaresAboutForests #IYF2011 #FSC
(about 4747 days ago) - Lisa Borden @lisaborden
Who cares about the forest? I do! I do! http://ow.ly/4CAKj <--another brilliant visual essay by @FrankeJames
(about 4747 days ago) - Andrea Learned @andrealearned
RT @LisaBorden Who cares about the forest? I do! I do! http://ow.ly/4CAKj <--another brilliant visual essay by @frankejames |Agree!
(about 4747 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
Thnx for previewing it too! RT @NobleIdeas New by @frankejames on #forestry. Video http://t.co/RJ2UOc5 And Visual Essay: http://t.co/e772G9n
(about 4746 days ago) - Andrea C @andreas2c
Franke James explores FSC certification in her colourful \"Who cares about the Forest?\" visual essay: http://t.co/f70IwKH via @frankejames
(about 4746 days ago) - Jim Harris @jimharris
See @FrankeJames' new #FSC forest story video http://bit.ly/WhoCaresForestvid & Visual Essay http://bit.ly/WhoCaresAboutForests #green
(about 4745 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
TY! MT @JimHarris See @FrankeJames' new forest story video http://bit.ly/WhoCaresForestvid & Visual Essay http://bit.ly/WhoCaresAboutForests
(about 4745 days ago) - Meals That Heal @juliedaniluk
Who cares about the Forest? http://ow.ly/4CEEa This is an awesome message! Thanks to @frankejames
(about 4743 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
Thnx Julie for spreading the word! MT @JulieDaniluk Who cares about the #Forest? http://ow.ly/4CEEa This is an awesome message!
(about 4743 days ago) - Meghan Telpner @meghantelpner
@LisaBorden @takeoutwout and @JoshGitalis Have you seen this ----> http://bit.ly/dHt5Do <----- perspective.
(about 4743 days ago) - Lloyd Alter @lloydalter
@frankejames pens the best (and funniest) explanation of #FSC certified wood ever. http://bit.ly/hmO94B and http://bit.ly/eKkB5f
(about 4743 days ago) - Lisa Borden @lisaborden
Of course! Isn't @frankejames brilliant? RT @meghantelpner: @LisaBorden @takeoutwout @JoshGitalis Have you seen this? http://bit.ly/dHt5Do
(about 4743 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
Wow! TY! MT @lloydalter @frankejames pens the best (& funniest) explanation of #FSC wood ever. http://bit.ly/hmO94B and http://bit.ly/eKkB5f
(about 4743 days ago) - company2keep @company2keepinc
GR8 #EarthDay story for my tweepals http://goo.gl/gkJlT by @frankejames #sustainability #green #eco
(about 4743 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
RT @company2keepinc: GR8 #EarthDay story for my tweepals http://goo.gl/gkJlT by @frankejames #sustainability #green #eco
(about 4742 days ago) - Barbara Matthiessen @blackdogworld
Checkout our @frankejames stunning art story, blog http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705 Who Cares About The Forest?
(about 4740 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
RT @Blackdogworld: Checkout our @frankejames stunning art story, blog http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705 Who Cares About The Forest?
(about 4740 days ago) - boatsie @boatsie
RT @Blackdogworld: Checkout our @frankejames stunning art story, blog http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705 Who Cares About The Forest?
(about 4740 days ago) - VeedetteKessler @veedettekessler
Franke James » Blog Archive » Who cares about the Forest? http://t.co/F2rueCF via @frankejames
(about 4739 days ago) - Cindy Becker @cinbee
RT @Blackdogworld: Checkout our @frankejames stunning art story, blog http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705 Who Cares About The Forest?
(about 4739 days ago) - EDAY @earthdaynewyork
@frankejames beautiful info graphic on Who cares about the Forest? http://bit.ly/fq1yP1 #earthtweet @Vecoistas
(about 4739 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
Thank you! MT @EarthDayNewYork beautiful info graphic: 'Who cares about the Forest?' by @frankejames http://bit.ly/fq1yP1 ht @Vecoistas
(about 4739 days ago) - Vicente Pliego @vicentepliego
#forest This is GREAT!! http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705
(about 4737 days ago) - rick durrant @thebarrelguy
xcellent article by Franke James » Blog Archive » Who cares about the Forest? http://t.co/UNkyVoR via @frankejames, check it out
(about 4715 days ago) - Percy Monteiro @wiredal
Brilliant as always from Franke: Who cares about the forest? http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=5705 (Yeah I know I'm late with this!)
(about 4672 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@RichardFantin Canada needs the politics of consensus. @FSC_Canada is a great example of power of consensus http://t.co/cvUwez6m #cdnpoli
(about 4461 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@intrstngtimes See my story "Who cares about the forest?" and apply thinking to oil & energy. http://t.co/cvUwez6m
(about 4427 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@DavidPatersonca @joeoliver1 Yup. Big idea, but it's been done in the forest industry. http://t.co/cvUwez6m
(about 4427 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@AndrewEJohnson YW! Who cares about the forest? See... http://t.co/cvUwez6m Or as a video: http://t.co/emmbyPRv
(about 4421 days ago) - kl @kaitlov3
Reeeaaad! http://t.co/VRzIesXy
(about 4338 days ago) - kl @kaitlov3
Franke James » Who cares about the Forest? http://t.co/VRzIesXy via @frankejames
(about 4338 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@canimbill Thnx! I see you\'re a forester. Take a look at this: \"Who cares about the Forest?\" http://t.co/cvUrGYXc #BorealForest
(about 4337 days ago) - Bear_Code @webwildink
Franke James » Who cares about the Forest? http://t.co/OuxmKduz via @frankejames
(about 4318 days ago) - Franke James @frankejames
@theviennacafe @Tzeporah @pboutis The govt would not be part of an OSC. See my FSC story http://t.co/cvUrGYXc @TidesCanada set the bar high
(about 4223 days ago) - Jenny @jenandrews3
Who cares about the Forest? - http://t.co/iZrg2nqp
(about 4127 days ago)
VIA TWITTER
@ontforest Who cares about the Forest? frankejames.com/debate/?cat=370 via @frankejames
VIA TWITTER
@WWFCanada: RT @fsc_canada: Who cares about the #forest? @WWFCanada @GreenpeaceCA @corporateknight Watch + Share http://ow.ly/4CIOO Thanks @frankejames!
VIA TWITTER
@FDOrganics Who cares about the forest? @frankejames shows us what @FSC_Canada does: http://ow.ly/4CzM8 We use only FSC Certified papers in our office.
VIA TWITTER
@tphcanada We do! :) RT @FSC_Canada: Who cares about the forest? @marialavis @scoutscanada @tphcanada @FDOrganics. Do you? http://ow.ly/4CPxc
Dear Franke,
Your story and visual essay is lovely! Congratulations about your creativity!
I have published your video on my personal blog (Education and Innovation) as an inspiration to educators and students for ‘Earth Day 2011’. Educators can motivate their students to different activities in the classroom watching and reading your story.
I respected copyright :)
My best wishes,
G-Souto,
Thank you for blogging about my story. You did a fantastic job of presenting both the visual essay and the video in a concise format.
And I LOVED your exercises for teachers. Here are G-Souto’s Earth Day exercises for teachers:
Education:
* Display the video in the classroom (primary and elementary school)
* Let your students use smartphones to read ‘Who cares about the Forest’ as a visual essay here
* Students are invited to a storytelling about Earth and some visual essays to complete their story.
* Educators can submit students’ projects on Your Act Green
* Students can visit Franke James’ website (educators tutoring) and leave a comment to the author.
BTW, I designed the video to be the right screen size on an ipad — it plays beautifully and fills the whole horizontal screen.
Cheers,
Franke
You’re welcome, Franke :-)
It’s a captivating story to celebrate the Forest at Earth Day, April 22.
Students will love it. They will feel motivated to develop creative activities in the classroom, I’m sure ;-)
Cheers,
G-Souto
P.S. BTW, I added iPad as a tool for students to use in the classroom.
I would suggest iPad but I didn’t found the right information. So I only suggested smartphones. Now, there it is!
G-Souto,
Thanks! I shared it with the EEON (Environmental Educators Ontario) list — and other educators. Your exercises will be inspirational to many teachers!
Franke
Once again you hit it out of the park, Franke. You can bet I’ll be sharing this for Earth Day.
I also like your glowing green bunny icon.
Have a happy Earth Day tomorrow.
THIS IS GREAT! I will be sharing this all over the place. I had not seen it yet when I created my current project Journey to Confluence, but part of what I am exploring is how to create multimedia projects (video and live presentation) and eBooks in lieu dead tree material. This is a tough one for me because I am an admitted bibliophile with way too many books, but I preach change so I must aspire to it. You are such a great role model. Thanks for your support!!! I’d love feed back on my project from your readers http://kck.st/f45Psq
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[…] credit Franke James We do go on about how important it is to buy lumber and wood products that are FSC (Forest […]
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Very nicely done. I’m inspired by your achievement of teaching important enviro-points through story-telling, and that even though it has a children’s storybook feel about it, it’s still interesting to an adult.
I am so happy to have found your work, courtesy of Cathyrn Wellner. I teach in Environmental Planning as an adjunct prof at UNBC and would love to include references to your work in my next class (fall 2011) if you are agreeable.
[…] Image Credit Franke James […]
Outstanding nature friendly blog. I think the people who live in the mountain side, riverside, farm, or even forest are the one who cares a lot to our forest. And the opposite, the rich business man, illegal loggers etc that cut the trees merciless is the one who don’t really care to the forest, all they want is money! They don’t mind the negative effect of it. I wish all of that men will realize the importance of nature. Great blog, your pictures makes me feel the beauty and the ache of our beloved forest.
Fantastic, Franke! From now on, seeing “FSC” will have meaning to me!
(and another great visual essay. I learned a lot, as usual ! Merci beaucoup Franke ;) )
Thank you for making me aware of the FSC, I had no idea!
Thank you for sharing this. It was very educational — very informative. I will now actually think of supporting this. I will also try to look for FSC products.
[…] It's not just wood against wood, it's wood against steel! Image credit Franke James […]
Yes, Your ideas, images, and graphics are very cool. See CBC Market Place scoop on toilet paper…”green washing.” We are flushing trees down the drain especially some companies that pretend to be sustainable but they clear cut. Note, the really soft toilet paper comes from the hard wood trees that are slow growing. Many consumers do not know the real source of toilet paper. Some of the green logos are a scam. Yes they are cutting old growth forests in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, e.g. big company Irving who owns and leases vast tracks of crown land from government. The paper company is not sustainably harvesting the forests out east. The biodiversity variety of deciduous and coniferous trees are being loss. Then the company plant tree farms or plantations of fast growing singular varieties that are prone to disease and pests.
See the difference between FSC and SFI which is what the CBC Market place show covered on toilet paper and sustainable and unsustainable forestry practices. Treehugger site gets into the finer points of this discussion too. Another great book is the “Empire of the Beetle”, How Human Folly and a Tiny Bug are Killing North America’s Great Forests by Andrew Nikiforuk. Imagine if we could leave vast tracks of forests and wilderness alone.
[…] © Franke JamesI have called it the Rumble in the Lumberyard; Artist/activist Franke James calls it the War in the […]
love your website, succinct, creative and insightful. good luck with your action-oriented work in the future!
so what are our options as authors when we are publishing
hard(tree)copy? hemp I guess?
this is so important
thank you!
J. Forest
J.,
Thanks for your comment. Actually, FSC certified paper is a great choice.
“The Forest Stewardship Council is the only certification system currently supported by Greenpeace. Products or pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have been given an environmental stamp of approval. The FSC certification system, which involves a third party audit of forest operations, is the only guarantee of sustainably managed forests.”
Franke
[…] © Franke James […]
I have just discovered your blog and your incredible passion and creativity. I love how you use visual storytelling to create empathy with the mission and desire to make a difference. Thankyou so much for shining your gift so bright and gifting the people and Mama Gaia with your brilliant, wit, wisdom and LOVE!