Ann Kuglak, a Colorado polymer clay artist, says, "I have no formal art training, but rely on native talent to bring my vision alive." She has an abundance of innate talent as you can see from her Etsy store, Mystic Dreamer Art. Her vibrant work - both wall art as well as jewelry and accessories shows off her eye for pattern and color.
What is more, 100% of her earnings goes towards saving the rainforest. Every dollar saves 2.5 acres. Ann has saved 238, 408 acres the last time I looked. This sum continues to grow. She supports the Rainforest Trust organization. This organization in turn uses 100% of donations directly for vital conservation action. Nearly 14 million acres collectively have been saved so far. I calculated that Ann alone contributed nearly 2% of this total.
The bad news is we are losing 1.5 acres of rainforest, every second. At this rate, the rainforests could be gone in 40 years.
Why should we care about tropical rainforests faraway? We should for many reasons. The Amazon rainforest alone accounts for 20% of the world's oxygen. It is called the Lungs of the Planet for good reason.
Rainforests are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems out there. More than half of all plants, animal and insects live in the rainforests. "Currently 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest materials, but only 1% of these materials have been tested". Also "Of the 3000 plants identified by the US National Cancer Institute as active against cancer cells, 70% come from rainforests."
Who knows what new medicine or antibiotics can be found there that could help us in the future? If these lands go, those potentially valuable drugs will be gone forever. Cutting and burning down these forests for short term gain - timber, mining etc - is disastrous for our collective future.
The protection of habitat also means we will not lose endangered species such as the orangutan.
No wonder Ann's creations feature so many animals!
H/T Aims for this find!
Before You Go:
Disclosure
This blog contains affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
What is more, 100% of her earnings goes towards saving the rainforest. Every dollar saves 2.5 acres. Ann has saved 238, 408 acres the last time I looked. This sum continues to grow. She supports the Rainforest Trust organization. This organization in turn uses 100% of donations directly for vital conservation action. Nearly 14 million acres collectively have been saved so far. I calculated that Ann alone contributed nearly 2% of this total.
The bad news is we are losing 1.5 acres of rainforest, every second. At this rate, the rainforests could be gone in 40 years.
Why should we care about tropical rainforests faraway? We should for many reasons. The Amazon rainforest alone accounts for 20% of the world's oxygen. It is called the Lungs of the Planet for good reason.
Rainforests are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems out there. More than half of all plants, animal and insects live in the rainforests. "Currently 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest materials, but only 1% of these materials have been tested". Also "Of the 3000 plants identified by the US National Cancer Institute as active against cancer cells, 70% come from rainforests."
Who knows what new medicine or antibiotics can be found there that could help us in the future? If these lands go, those potentially valuable drugs will be gone forever. Cutting and burning down these forests for short term gain - timber, mining etc - is disastrous for our collective future.
The protection of habitat also means we will not lose endangered species such as the orangutan.
No wonder Ann's creations feature so many animals!
H/T Aims for this find!
Before You Go:
- Forest Inspired Jewelry by Julia Goland
- Book Review - Jewelry Designs from Nature
- 3D Nature Inspired Beadwork Jewelry by Julia Turova
Disclosure
This blog contains affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
I am in total awe of not only Ann's talents but also what she has done with them. 2% is a HUGE contribution to our planet!
ReplyDeleteIn some respects I feel slightly ashamed that I'm not doing more besides composting and recycling. I feel I should dedicate some other part of my life to helping save what we have left.
When I look at what changes the planet has gone through in the last 100 years alone and watch as we all fight about climate change and pollution - I wonder what will I see in the years I have left to me.
People treat this planet as their own personal garbage dump/disposal. With no thoughts to the future we are doomed to fail with our existence.
All praise to Ann and all her wonderful work. Every single time I look at it causes me to think more seriously about all of this.
Thank you for sharing her story Pearl. It's one we all need to take very seriously and consider helping out ourselves.
I agree! And I was glad I was able to bring her work to everyone's attention.
DeleteThanks so much for showing my work, and for both of your notes -- they definitely made my week! It's great to meet kindred spirits!
ReplyDeleteAnn
Ann - Have signed up for one of your courses on CraftArtEdu...I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks again for sharing your inspirations in this way and for goading me on to be a better contributor to the planet. You truly are an inspiration to us all.
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