Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 246 - 9.29.16

While protecting polar bears is important, the real point of this project is to advocate for removal of the Coastal Plain from any future development. 1.5 million unique and irreplaceable acres of wilderness - "Alaska's Serengeti!" Keep it wild. Keep it -- period! 

Subsequently, for those that like to read a little more, there are currently two bills before the Senate, the Alaska Economic Development and Access to Resources Act (S. 3203) and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Improvement Act (S. 3273) which both threaten to private public lands in the interests of resource and mineral development. We need to move forward in our search for clean energy solutions, not backwards in a last minute land grab to exploit as much as possible. Onwards and upwards!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 245 - 9.29.16

Head down. Keep going. Full speed ahead!

Harts Pass No. 317

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 244 - 9.28.16

Ah, the many moods of the polar bear post card project... When they go low, we go high!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 243 - 9.27.16

As much as this project has been about my own small way of participating in the political process, about encouraging the current administration to give due consideration to an issue that I feel strongly about, its also been an engaging way for me to raise my own personal awareness of SO many other things. That being said, please don't forget about your own participation in the process, and DO get out your vote by November 8th. No polar bear actually running for President, but if there were I bet they'd believe in taking bold steps to reduce our carbon outputs and to get a grip on global warming.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 242 - 9.27.16

Alas, the Presidential debates have begun... "I'm with her" - for sure! But you still kind of want a fierce mother polar bear to step in and put her wild and imposing self between our kids and the embarrassing display of ugly defensive politicking and decidedly un-Presidential discourse (mostly from the Republicans) that we've been subjected to over the last several months. Clinton, for her part, seemed to kick butt last night. She believes in the science of climate change and the impact that we have on the world -- a debate that is also settled and agreed upon by the actual scientific communinty. She is smart. She is considered. She is experienced. She is the ONLY one on last night's stage that should be President. #VoteforClimate #VoteforPolarbears

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 241 - 9.26.16

After Leonardo da Vinci's Man in a Circle, Illustrating Proportions. And regarding "proportions" a few quick facts: 10% of the Earth's wilderness has disappeared since the 1990's - and only 23% of remaining land is considered wilderness. Please, President Obama, consider adding the Arctic Refuge permanently to those rolls by designating the coastal plain a national monument.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 240 - 9.26.16

Excited that fall is finally here -- and that the sea ice can begin to freeze again in Arctic waters!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 239 - 9.23.16

These two marine mammals would never meet in the wild, but today the Honorable Senator Bill Nelson (FL) became the 37th member of the Senate to sign to a Bill to protect the Arctic Refuge on Alaska's coastal plain. Manatees and polar bears. #wearethearctic

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 238 - 9.22.16

Harts Pass No. 316

My annual ode to fall :)

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 237 - 9.20.16

President Obama has set aside over 265 million acres for federal protection -- more than double the amount of any other President -- in his 23 (and counting) national monument designations thus far. Alaska's coastal plain and the 1002 would be another 1.5 million acres. Easy math - even for a bear!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 236 - 9.15.16

A second International Dot Day post card!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 235 - 9.15.16

International Dot Day here at the Polar Bear Post Card Project! Its been happening for many years, and is, much like these post cards, a celebration of creativity and creative people "hoping to move the world to a better place." Check it out at the link above and mark your own mark today! #DotDay

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 234 - 9.15.16

Tired. Headaches. Colors. Polar bears.

Harts Pass No. 315

Context is everything. Sort the facts. Reduce the spin. Don't believe the hype!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 233 - 9.14.16

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 232 - 9.14.16

Another day, another piece of discouraging news about summer ice melt in the Arctic oceans. University of Washington researchers just confirmed a dramatic continuance of early melt-out and late-freeze trajectories for ice that correlates to nearly seven total weeks of less-than-ideal ice conditions for polar bears and other animals. You can read more here, and please send the President your own concerns regarding essential and dramatic decreases in our carbon footprint.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 231 - 9.12.16

And finally, the last of my little mini-series within a series...

Labor Day - Bears at Work - no. 12: Teacher!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 230 - 9.12.16

Labor Day - Bear at Work - no. 11: Weatherman

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 229 - 9.12.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - no. 10: Scientist

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 228 - 9.12.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 9: Policeman

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 227 - 9.9.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 8: CPA

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 226 - 9.9.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - no. 7: Mechanic

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 225 - 9.8.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 6: Farmer

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 224 - 9.8.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 5: Grocery Clerk

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 223 - 9.8.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 4: Firefighter!

Harts Pass No. 314

Another moment in the "True History of Grit!" -- In this case, from Sept. 7th, 1876, when the good citizens of Northfield, MN turned back the outlaw Jesse James. The foiled bank robbery and subsequent pursuit thusly resulted in the death and capture of multiple members of the James Unger Gang. Dedicated as well to the Defeat of Jesse James Day's festivities and to the annual kick-off to each of my years at Carleton College :)  

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 222 - 9.7.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 3: Dr. Bear

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 221 - 9.6.16

Labor Day - Bears at Work - No. 2: The Artist!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 220 - 9.6.16

On the heels of Labor Day, a "series within the series" of some polar bears and a wide variety of colorful, important, necessary and indispensable jobs. Working' on it!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 219 - 9.3.16

Bonus bear for the day! (And actually I'm STILL catching up after summer vacation) But in honor of National Hummingbird Day... here you go :)

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 218 - 9.3.16

Two thumbs up for the news that both the United States AND China have made their official commitments to joining the Paris Climate Accord. As the two largest economies and two largest carbon emitters in the world, this is a significant step towards achieving the required commitments by the end of 2016. Thank you to both President Obama and President Xi Jinping for your diplomatic examples to the world!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 217 - 9.2.16

The bears watched us, as we watched them. One year ago on Alaska's coastal plain. Many thanks to those who made that possible. A persistant memory to be celebrated! #wearethearctic

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 216 - 9.1.16

A bit of a Hans Brinker situation in the Arctic right now with fragile agreements preventing further and to many arguable degrees unnecessary oil developments in ANWAR's 1002. Please encourage the President to support a monument designation before the end of his term in office and take a stand for permanent protection.

National Letter Writing Day!

And what? Apparently September 1st is National Letter Writing Day! Later, Gator! AND the Polar Bear Post Card Project polar bear greatly approve!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 215 - 8.31.16

Thank you again Mr. President, for your recent National Monument designations in Maine and Hawaii. And thank you doubly to the awesome second graders at John Sevier Elementary in Maryville, TN for helping me out and for doing such great research on the polar bears and their Arctic lives! 45 ADDITIONAL Polar Bear Post Cards headed your way Mr. President! Keep that in mind as you consider a monument status for the 1002 :) 

PS The John Sevier students even practiced their bear drawing before starting their first post cards!

Harts Pass No. 313

A bit of "back to school" juxtaposition... or some sort of color commentary on the size of modern day backpacks. The choice is yours :)