New year, new blog

I have upgraded the Everyday Explorers blog to Wordpress.

For more musings and photos of my explorations, you can follow me here: 

www.everydayexplorersblog.com

Thank you to everyone that has read my blog posts in the past year. I hope you have taken or learnt something from my ramblings.

You are what you eat: documentaries you have to watch

Thanks to the internet we all have access to an abundance of information on planet issues. Netflix rules when it comes to documentaries and below are three important films that I’ve watched recently. If you haven’t seen them you really should, they’re pretty shocking.

Food Matters

Food Matters blew me away. It talks about the connection between food/nutrition and personal health/wellbeing. It also looks at the truth behind pharmaceutical drugs and that big, greedy, corrupt industry.

The documentary poses the theory that you can use food to heal and cure diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, instead of using modern medicine. Some doctors offer nutritional therapy to cancer patients that involve putting them on a drip that gives them high dosage of vitamin c. And this cures patients – no chemo, no hair loss. This kind of therapy isn't offered in lot of countries. In fact it’s even banned in some places, such as the USA. Doctors have to work from Mexico in order to offer this therapy.

The documentary accuses the pharmaceutical industry of profiting from peoples illnesses by treating their sickness instead of curing them of it. It also advocates the raw food diet. Did you know that when you cook food it loses 50% of its nutrition?

It features Charlotte Gerson, Founder of the Gerson Institute. The foundation offers a natural, non-toxic, safe treatment of cancer and other diseases. Garson Therapy is said to activate your body's ability to heal itself through changing your diet and switching to plant based meals and raw juices.

There are no clinical trials on the Gerson therapy but there are patients that have used this therapy exclusively and it’s worked – most famously, Gearin-Tosh and Beata Bishop.

Food Matters have set up their own website, offering lots of health and nutritional advice. Check it out: http://www.foodmatters.tv

Food Inc

I think anyone that eats meat but does not go out and kill/prepare their dinner should watch this to know where their food is coming from. Documentary filmmaker, Robert Kenner, looks at the impact of mass farming on the planet, and questions the ethical treatment of the animals and workers.

It’s not just about global warming, it also discusses the treatment of the food and how this can have an effect on our health.

One scene in the film shows you the inside of a chicken farm, where they have developed chickens that grow bigger, faster, with more breast meat – which has resulted in the chickens legs not being able to hold their own body weight so they just collapse in their dark closed pens. The story is much the same for all these mass produced animals, crammed together in huge numbers, injected with antibiotics (which ends up on your fork – think about it), deformed, suffering, and often brutally killed. On some farms, cattle are being fed corn instead of grass, which has led to infection. And the solution to these problems…add more chemicals!

One scene shows a farm bleaching a hamburger to prevent the meat from being poisoned.

They’re choosing to bleach your meat instead of just switching back to grass fed cows…because cows don’t grow as big and fast on grass. And the industry won’t turnover a higher profit. These are BIG world issues.

It’s not all doom and gloom. The film also highlights the RIGHT way of farming. One organic farmer featured in the film feeds his small number of cattle on grass and lets them roam free on the land. Probably how you would prefer to picture your meal before it lands on your plate.

This is a must see that will alter your way of thinking and enlighten you on the issues we have with agriculture and corporations.

Find out more on this website: http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

An Inconvenient Truth

I am a sucker for anything global warming related and this documentary is one of my favourites.

It follows Al Gore’s campaign to educate America on global warming and it has won lots of awards for the film’s director, Davis Guggenheim.

The film has inspired many and has done a great job raising the profile of climate change.

It follows Gore on a roadshow around the states where he presents his facts and figures about the planet and what we’re doing to it, as well as highlighting the consequences of our actions if we don’t change our habits.

One key issue that Gore focuses on is the reduction in Antarctic ice, which is horribly depressing and upsetting as we have already gone too far to help much of the recovery of this. It also paints a picture of what will happen once all the ice has melted…it’s terrifying. Invest in a canoe whilst you still can.

What’s probably most shocking of all is the amount of people who don’t even believe that global warming is a thing. Despite scientists around the world signing a document to say that this is a fact and we need to address it, and despite all the overwhelming evidence, there are those in power who say it is unproven. This film was made in 2008 so since then the issue has gained more global headlines. This has forced politicians into changing laws and regulations whereby we need to reduce and limit our greenhouse gas emissions.

This quote by Roger Ebert, American film critic, journalist, and screenwriter, pretty much wraps this up: "You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to."

You can find our more about this on their web page: http://www.takepart.com/an-inconvenient-truth/film

Thanks for reading. Remember to buy responsibly and reduce your carbon footprint where possible.

And if anyone has recommendations for related documentaries please let me know.

Lomography love

My collection of lomography cameras continues to grow.

I am finally getting around to developing a Sardina 35mm colour film from various expeditions, spanning Tromso, the Lake District, the Azores, and (home sweet home) Greenwich.

Some have gone a bit grainy from being on the wrong setting but I quite like the effect. 

My camera could not handle the temperature near the Arctic and a lot of my photos from there seem to have got damaged from being exposed to -15 degree temperatures. You can't really capture how beautiful the Nordic wilderness is on film so you'll just have to experience it yourself. 

Found this cool cave in the Lakes

Save the best till last

Greenwich: the home of time and space

Greenwich is one of those places that gets a reaction from people when mentioned. People usually say how nice it is with a slight element of surprise, usually forgetting it even existed. Greenwich has a lot to boast about, but is never in your face about it.

Guest blog by Matthew Bronka

One of my favourite pastimes

It is close to central London, is rich in history, and all the 'time' in the world revolves around it.

I think Greenwich is one of London's most awesome areas of London and I really hope that doesn’t change. I have been living in the green leafy borough for two years now and want to share my favourite things that Greenwich has shown me.

Greenwich Park

First to be mentioned is the park. It’s cool because it’s hilly, has London's BEST view and only planetarium, a historic observatory, and hosts a loads of events.

It’s one of those parks that attract people's respect effortlessly, due to its well-kept greens and clean, smart layout. It is located in-line with the Queens House and the star gazing observatory, plonked at the top of the hill.

You can see the snake-like curve of the Thames wind its way into London, and it would have been the perfect place to spot all those historic ships coming and going into the busy Greenwich port. It was a party place for the Victorians with their summer fair, where mad hatters and dames sprinted up the hill. There's also a deer park at the rear (apparently the deer used to roam free), a herb garden, a boat lake, as well as a killer hill for skateboarders to mash themselves up.

I know it’s the most obvious attraction in Greenwich, but it really is a banging park. Have a day there when the sun is out, you won’t regret it.

Royal Observatory

Secondly, it has to be the observatory and planetarium – there is so much good stuff to see here. Even if you don't go into the Royal Observatory, just stand outside and close your eyes for a moment and pay some god-darn respect to the amount of stuff that got figured out here.

One being a time system that everyone could use and stick to, so no more meeting at high noon to have a shoot-off. Because of Greenwich Mean Time, boats, trains, royal naval stuff and navigation could all be done punctually. This was discovered by looking at the planets and stars. Anyone who was anyone back in the day studied there. From this we also derived Longitude, it was a clever way to figure out how far north or south you were based on planets and time. Rad.

Meantime

Moving on to the less obvious now, make sure you have a drink of beer when visiting. Go to the Old Brewery in the Royal Naval College and get tasting. The Old Royal Naval College was basically a fancy old people’s home designed by Sir Christopher Wren by the king’s order for the lucky old wrinkly sailors that needed the care after their honourable duty at sea.

The old brewery is located in what was their original old brewery and they serve a selection of Greenwich Meantime beers. Greenwich Meantime have a hilariously entertaining tour down the road, near the Blackwall tunnel, where you will have plenty to taste and leave with more knowledge and appreciation for the stuff.

The Old Brewery

The two other favourite drinking spots in Greenwich are the more hidden Greenwich Union - TRY THE CHERRY BEER! Oh man it’s like fresh cherry liquid love. Also spend an afternoon in the Cutty Sark Pub. Although not next to the existing Cutty Sark boat, it does have homemade meat/cheese boards (sausage rolls, scotch eggs, you name it) to share, a great drink selection, and its bang on the Thames for a good river view (although not the cheapest!).

Picturehouse

The Greenwich Picturehouse cinema is so well suited to the pace and outlook of Greenwich it can’t be missed. It has a community feel with the best, I repeat, THE BEST selection of films from new releases, foreign flicks, old classics and the odd celebratory cult themed evenings.

The bar is inviting and they will even show screenings of films of your choice if you get enough people willing to attend. Every visit makes me feel warm and reassured that there is still hope for authentic love of good film, and also helps me forget about the price of popcorn!

Vinyl

A gem of a shop to visit is the Music and Video Exchange. They give you cash (or double that in vouchers) for your old DVD's and you can lose yourself browsing vinyl and DVD’s. It’s a distant memory of what record stores used to be, with the typical loud music of the sales assistants choice blaring and quietly mooching muso's sifting through the dusty relics. Stop in and lose yourself for a while.

Calamari

The Chinese on the corner, Tai Won Mein, serves you the biggest plate of noodles for £5 - you will have to share it. You can also get a massive bowl of chilli squid for the same price. It’s served quickly, with the minimal amount of service grace, but so tasty you won’t really care. It’s always full of people, but that’s always a good sign. Go there if you want a large, filling tasty treat for a very cheap price. I know some people that go out of their way to go for a meal here. Other than the calamari, which is a must, try the Singapore noodles...nommmmmmmmmm.

The market

Last but not least, visit the bustling markets for more tasty grub, crafty goods and bric a brac. The inside market in the square is always fun, with some good lunchtime selections and interesting toot. They also hold an awesome vintage motor show on the last Thursday of every month, very fun.

The Flood Gallery sells the coolest cult prints of bands, films, and books. The Clock Tower Market hosts more vintage finds, with bric a brac and retro clothing that is always worth a browse. Make sure you check out the dude with the gramophone and ask him to play an original Shellac.

Don’t forget to visit 'The Junk Shop', a delightful shop full of interesting junk only down the road - kind of like a market but in the shape of a shop.

So these are my favourite things! There’s still an endless list of things to enjoy in Greenwich, such as the vast masts of the Cutty Sark, crossing the Thames via the underwater foot tunnel, the Lunar Cinema events held in summer, watching the popular hairy chested Greenwich drag racing, as well as numerous festivals, arts and concerts.

There is so much character in Greenwich and so much to do, please don’t tell anyone else or they will all come flooding.