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ROSEMARY LOW
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NEWS PAGE
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PLANET CRUNCH The Life (or Death?)
of Planet Earth by Richard Brock. Reviewed by Rosemary Low Planet Crunch – The Life (or Death?) of Planet Earth is a ground-breaking and ambitious project of 3 x 25-minute films on Youtube and Vimeo, plus a book. Published April 2021. A unique perspective at crunch-time, it is based on how the media have lifted the natural world to the front-page headlines. For two years the author clipped relevant news and articles from daily and Sunday newspapers and wildlife publications and he gives his own, forthright and often humorous, take on them. The book is richly illustrated, with images (including cartoons) on almost every one of the 145 pages. I love the cartoon he commission on ‘The Disastrous World of Donald Trump. In the background, Greta Thunberg’s scowling face could refreeze a glacier! |
The book is packed with commentary on wildlife, natural resources, impact of global politics, population, climate change and our future.
And it is FREE to you! No, there is no catch. It is free because Richard wants to motivate you to read it. He describes it as political, challenging, cheeky, significant, educational and even rude! A publication that is both up-to-date and down-to-earth. He is so wise and intensely passionate about conservation and has never profited financially from his films.
He said:
‘It is a very personal view and includes David Attenborough; Greta Thunberg; biodiversity; shopping; forests; farming; fishing; food; consumption; waste/plastic/recycling; energy/oil; climate change; Covid-19; water; the media; money/fashion; Trump/Biden; aviation/travel/tourism; human population; China; nature and us. The white stork is the theme ending with some really good news.’
Richard is an amazing man who I have known for more than 20 years and whose friendship and humour I value enormously. We met at the International Parrot Symposium held at Loro Parque, Tenerife, in 2000. He asked for my input in making a film about Spix’s Macaw. He has made so many thoughtful and original films, long and short, on conservation and environmental issues. One hundred of these films are free for everyone to access via his website. Many have been used overseas, especially in Africa, to help local people to conserve and value their wildlife and their environment. His films on birds include weavers, moorhens, puffins and the Exe estuary.
Richard’s career in wildlife documentary making include 35 years with the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, as the producer of some of David Attenborough’s most famous series, Life on Earth and The Living Planet. He left the BBC because he felt wildlife was glamourised and the facts about the dire state of the planet was ignored because it was bad news. So he set up his own company to tell the truth and not to hide unpopular issues. He was decades ahead of his time.
You can order a copy for your bookshelf or send as a gift. And please extend the project – pass on this offer to friends and contacts and share it on all your social media.
Donations to charity will be welcomed. If you would like to contribute – say £10 – to Richard’s preferred local charity, the Avon Wildlife Trust, based close to where he lives, or to a charity of your choice, please do so. These days many charities are desperate for income to help continue projects around the world.
Free shipping is to the UK only. For other worldwide destinations please contact the distribution team.
Visit: brockinitiative.org/product/planet-crunch-the-life-or-death-of-planet-earth-by-richard-brock/
And it is FREE to you! No, there is no catch. It is free because Richard wants to motivate you to read it. He describes it as political, challenging, cheeky, significant, educational and even rude! A publication that is both up-to-date and down-to-earth. He is so wise and intensely passionate about conservation and has never profited financially from his films.
He said:
‘It is a very personal view and includes David Attenborough; Greta Thunberg; biodiversity; shopping; forests; farming; fishing; food; consumption; waste/plastic/recycling; energy/oil; climate change; Covid-19; water; the media; money/fashion; Trump/Biden; aviation/travel/tourism; human population; China; nature and us. The white stork is the theme ending with some really good news.’
Richard is an amazing man who I have known for more than 20 years and whose friendship and humour I value enormously. We met at the International Parrot Symposium held at Loro Parque, Tenerife, in 2000. He asked for my input in making a film about Spix’s Macaw. He has made so many thoughtful and original films, long and short, on conservation and environmental issues. One hundred of these films are free for everyone to access via his website. Many have been used overseas, especially in Africa, to help local people to conserve and value their wildlife and their environment. His films on birds include weavers, moorhens, puffins and the Exe estuary.
Richard’s career in wildlife documentary making include 35 years with the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, as the producer of some of David Attenborough’s most famous series, Life on Earth and The Living Planet. He left the BBC because he felt wildlife was glamourised and the facts about the dire state of the planet was ignored because it was bad news. So he set up his own company to tell the truth and not to hide unpopular issues. He was decades ahead of his time.
You can order a copy for your bookshelf or send as a gift. And please extend the project – pass on this offer to friends and contacts and share it on all your social media.
Donations to charity will be welcomed. If you would like to contribute – say £10 – to Richard’s preferred local charity, the Avon Wildlife Trust, based close to where he lives, or to a charity of your choice, please do so. These days many charities are desperate for income to help continue projects around the world.
Free shipping is to the UK only. For other worldwide destinations please contact the distribution team.
Visit: brockinitiative.org/product/planet-crunch-the-life-or-death-of-planet-earth-by-richard-brock/
NEW BOOKS 2021
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Parrot Conservation
464 pages of up to date information on the status and conservation projects for parrots worldwide. Published October 2021 in Australia and available from [email protected] website: www.newhollandpublishers.com tel +61 2 8986 4700 Available in the UK from the author |
COMMENTS FROM READERS
Your great books and your amazing work is a lifelong inspiration to me.
With deep respect,
Anton Vaidl, Curator of Birds, Prague Zoo, Czechia
With deep respect,
Anton Vaidl, Curator of Birds, Prague Zoo, Czechia
Isabelle Mussard , March 2023
I have been so greatly enjoying your books, that I wanted to write to thank you. Your passion, hands on experience and expertise with these amazing creatures is unparalleled and much appreciated.
I have been so greatly enjoying your books, that I wanted to write to thank you. Your passion, hands on experience and expertise with these amazing creatures is unparalleled and much appreciated.
From reader
Dr Ingrid Erhorn 25.05.1993, who visited Palmitos Park, May 1993
“Your friendly, helpful and communicative way made the tour through the breeding centre, beside the tremendous number of species, an impressive memory. It is hard to find someone who is not interested in profit but has fundamental knowledge, idealism and for whom the wellbeing of the birds is most important. Your positive influence was very noticeable, especially in the behaviour and condition of the young bred.
Dr Ingrid Erhorn 25.05.1993, who visited Palmitos Park, May 1993
“Your friendly, helpful and communicative way made the tour through the breeding centre, beside the tremendous number of species, an impressive memory. It is hard to find someone who is not interested in profit but has fundamental knowledge, idealism and for whom the wellbeing of the birds is most important. Your positive influence was very noticeable, especially in the behaviour and condition of the young bred.
Gerhard Hinz 13.05.2023
You yourself, dear Mrs. Low, have accompanied me since the beginning of my keeping and breeding of parrots, parakeets and lorries, more than 40 years ago and since then you have had my admiration and respect!!! Your book Das Papageien Buch, which was published in German, was one of the first books I bought back then.
You yourself, dear Mrs. Low, have accompanied me since the beginning of my keeping and breeding of parrots, parakeets and lorries, more than 40 years ago and since then you have had my admiration and respect!!! Your book Das Papageien Buch, which was published in German, was one of the first books I bought back then.
Hello, Rosemary,
Just thought I would send a quick email to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed the revised edition of Pyrrhura Parakeets - especially the conservation detail regarding my personal favourites - P. griseipectus.
Brilliant.
Thank you so much,
Guy Smith
Just thought I would send a quick email to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed the revised edition of Pyrrhura Parakeets - especially the conservation detail regarding my personal favourites - P. griseipectus.
Brilliant.
Thank you so much,
Guy Smith
Michael McKaig, USA
Amazon Parrots: Your descriptions and comments describe these wonderful birds perfectly. And your personal experiences and careful observations are what make all your aviculture books so much better than anyone else's. I now have all your books, and they have pride of place in my library.
Amazon Parrots: Your descriptions and comments describe these wonderful birds perfectly. And your personal experiences and careful observations are what make all your aviculture books so much better than anyone else's. I now have all your books, and they have pride of place in my library.
John Fisher, UK
Thank you for the lovely books; they are all superb. I have found all the books very helpful and interesting. My family has learnt much about parrots. We all have a lot to thank you for.
Thank you for the lovely books; they are all superb. I have found all the books very helpful and interesting. My family has learnt much about parrots. We all have a lot to thank you for.
Gail Brankin, South Africa,
I have just finished “Understanding Parrots -- Cues from Nature”. Wow! What a fabulous read!! Thank-you for opening my eyes, growing my understanding and highlighting my responsibilities. I have lots of work ahead of me. None of it difficult but now that I have a better idea of what needs to be improved and why, I am going to be busy. My understanding of enrichment to date has been limited -- buying all those bright toys in pet shops.
I have just finished “Understanding Parrots -- Cues from Nature”. Wow! What a fabulous read!! Thank-you for opening my eyes, growing my understanding and highlighting my responsibilities. I have lots of work ahead of me. None of it difficult but now that I have a better idea of what needs to be improved and why, I am going to be busy. My understanding of enrichment to date has been limited -- buying all those bright toys in pet shops.
Ashley Herrod, Australia, January 2014
I am a big fan of your philosophies on bird keeping, especially in regard to the enrichment of parrots’ lives while in captivity. This is something more bird keepers, particularly in Australia, need to consider, and put into practice, to make their parrots happier and healthier: it really is an ethical obligation to do so, I think.
I really enjoyed reading your book Understanding Parrots -- Cues from Nature, particularly all the references you made to wild examples based on your observations in the field.
I am a big fan of your philosophies on bird keeping, especially in regard to the enrichment of parrots’ lives while in captivity. This is something more bird keepers, particularly in Australia, need to consider, and put into practice, to make their parrots happier and healthier: it really is an ethical obligation to do so, I think.
I really enjoyed reading your book Understanding Parrots -- Cues from Nature, particularly all the references you made to wild examples based on your observations in the field.
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