Editor’s note: This story comes to us from Molly Presson, a college classmate of mine. Molly studied Politics and Environmental Studies at Whitman College. She currently resides in Oakland, CA. Editorial A community that experiences high levels of poverty, homelessness and joblessness also experiences unusually high levels of pollution. West Oakland illustrates the parallel forces that … Continue reading Climate Change in West Oakland: Molly Presson
These past few weeks have been nuts. Every day I’ve been confronted with new landscapes, wild colors, and a borderlands culture that I didn’t know existed in China. Between long miles, tall climbs, cold descents, illness and altitude, I’ve come closer than ever in my life to my own physical limits. I’m tired now. Fatigue has seeped into my … Continue reading Mountains Beyond Mountains: Through The Tibetan Region of Kham
When people talk about climate change, they talk about hope. They discuss prospects, ifs thens, and perceived inevitabilities. In the end or from the very beginning the chatter settles around two questions, asked as synonyms: Do you have hope? Are you hopeful? Around two months ago I was couchsurfing with a woman in Guilin (桂林）, … Continue reading Hope in the Discussion of Climate Change
In the eyes of its residents, Guangzhou runs different. Where the last century saw Western influence purged from the buildings of South China, Guangzhou’s opulent colonial homes and old embassies stand repurposed into businesses, restaurants and galleries. People wistfully tell of the time Cantonese was almost chosen over Beijing dialect as the basis for Mandarin. They are quick to point out … Continue reading Rice Harmony: Growing an Organic CSA in the Pearl River Delta
As I head into the final two months of the Southwest China part of this tour, life on the road is shifting. Seasons, climate, gears and landscapes change, and into the mountains we go. These last months of pedaling have been through a bright droning heat. I had to go south first for visa reasons, so … Continue reading Shifting: Hanoi to Kunming (and What’s Next)
Cover Photo: The hills near China’s border with Vietnam #geography=politics I’ll have a post soon relating my time in Hanoi, where I met with folks from the local 350.org outpost, and detailing my plans for the final two months of this leg of the tour (hint: think elevation). Continue reading Rounding Second Base: To Hanoi
This is Hong Kong. Markets invented from fishing villages and let to roam free, built up and pushed together into the most vertical city on earth. Imagine walking for a day in that city, the same footprint as Manhattan but with half again as many people, everything new but the things that ought not to be, everything in … Continue reading Hong Kong, 2015
Originally posted on One Bike, One Year:
GORGEOUS & NECESSARY STORYTELLING: Go read this comic now. This is only an excerpt. The whole thing is worth it. Hats off to Audrey Quinn and Jackie Roche for bringing this comic into the world. Water & climate change. It’s a story we should all be paying attention to. Continue reading Syria, Water, & Climate Change
Last days in Hong Kong, camping on the southern island of Po Toi. Local fisheries have collapsed in recent years, and many locals have had to leave to search for work elsewhere. Nature is retaking the land, and it has become a popular place for weekend campers Continue reading Out of Guangzhou: Images from the Road
Pictured above: Me, Li Luying (黎璐英) and Li Qiang (李强 ) , taking a break from the road near Huaihua (怀化) Three cars roll down out of the Hunan countryside, their lines bold and new. Golden hour sunlight warms three fresh coats of wax. The leader, bluebird against the unblemished white of its followers, pumps pop music out … Continue reading The Twisted, Hopeful World of Chinese Electric Vehicles
360 by bike 