Paradise Earth in Panama, Video Diary of Day 7

In this diary entry, David Calvin talks about the trip that the Paradise Earth Team made to visit the Kuna Indians. The Kuna live on a series of islands off the coast of Panama, called collectively the San Blas Islands. Although not originally islanders, the Kuna were moved to this 'reservation' after the Spanish invasion of Panama. This matriarchal society was extremely interesting, colorful, and welcoming. For more beautiful images of the Kuna, be sure to check out our previous post on the San Blas Islands, which features images of the Kuna Indians.

Willie Mazu Slideshow

This photo slideshow contains some of our favorite images from our 5 days at Willie Mazu in Panama. Willie Mazu is owned and run by Wilberto Martinez and his family, and is located in the highlands of Bocas del Toro. The Paradise Earth Team truly could not have asked for a better, more experienced environmental guide than Willie! We highly recommend him and his services. For more info on Willie, visit his website at www.natturpanama.com

Our adventures at Willie Mazu included hiking to a remote waterfall, birding, an encounter with a deadly viper (see our previous post on the Jumping Pit Viper), and visiting nearby native tribes. Willie also shared some of the local flavor from Chiriqui Grande, the largest neighboring city.

The entire Paradise Earth Team was honored to be a part of this amazing journey!

Paradise Earth Press Release

For Immediate Release

Paradise Earth Team Visits Belize and Panama and Offers Free Video and Photos Online

The team behind the Paradise Earth rainforest habitat project in the greater Phoenix area recently traveled to Belize and Panama on an information-gathering mission. The results, including photo slideshows and video, are being offered for free to the public online at www.ParadiseEarth.com.

Phoenix, Arizona – April 8, 2008 – David Calvin’s Paradise Earth team recently traveled to Belize and Panama to gather information for the three-phase Paradise Earth project: the website (www.ParadiseEarth.com), the 165,000 square foot rainforest habitat and educational center being built in Arizona, and the Paradise Earth TV series. In line with the Paradise Earth mission of both conservation and education, the team has published video footage and photo slideshows of their travels on the website, freely available to the public.
“Educating the public about the world’s rainforests is really the first step to encouraging conservation,” says Char Mandarich of the Paradise Earth Media Team and the Mandarich Media Group. “We had the opportunity to document species that most people won’t ever see for themselves. The team wants to share these images with the public to help raise awareness as well as to simply share some of the Earth’s most beautiful creatures.”
Rainforests are disappearing across the globe, despite the growing popularity of living “greener” lives. The Paradise Earth team is making this photo and video collection available to educate the public about what they’re actually losing. Available resources from the recent trips to Panama and Belize include photo slideshows of the butterflies of Panama and the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands, and a video diary filmed daily by Calvin in Panama.
While in Panama, Calvin visited with Bill Laurance of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Laurance participated in a video interview, which is also now available on the Paradise Earth website.
The site is also currently featuring “The Story of the Rainforest,” a collection of articles about how rainforests work, the biological richness and diversity of rainforests, and more from pre-eminent rainforest expert Thomas Lovejoy.
The team’s website videographer, former NFL player Tony Mandarich, will offer site visitors a rare glimpse at a species of bird very rarely seen – the Cock of the Rock. The video will soon be added to the Paradise Earth website.

The Paradise Earth team includes:
David Calvin – Founder and TV show co-host
Craig Allison – TV show co-host
Glenda Skalitzky-Zaborski – TV show producer, Goodwitch Productions
Char and Tony Mandarich – Paradise Earth Media Team, Mandarich Media Group
Jason Shane – Bird expert
The Paradise Earth film crew

About Paradise Earth
Paradise Earth is a 165,000 square foot rainforest habitat, aviary, educational center, and conference facility in the greater Phoenix area founded by David Calvin, owner of development firm Calvin Enterprises. Paradise Earth is expected to open in the next two years with a mission of both education and conservation, and the habitat will be home to thousands of species of birds, trees, and other plants indigenous to the world’s rainforests. Educational materials on issues such as ecology, rainforest conservation, environmental protection, and recycling will be available to the public. The facility will house a 10,000 square foot conference center with event catering, educational, interactive exhibit space, movie theater, and café and gift shop. The rainforest habitat alone will span over 75,000 square feet.
For additional information on Paradise Earth of the recent excursions of the Paradise Earth team to Belize and Panama, please visit www.ParadiseEarth.com or contact the Paradise Earth office at 480-621-7530.
High resolution photos and videos are available by contacting Char Mandarich of Mandarich Media Group at 480-277-7888.

Contact:
David Calvin
Paradise Earth, LLC
Phone: 480-621-7530
Web: www.ParadiseEarth.com
Email: info@paradiseearth.com

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PANAMA CANAL Diary Day #6

This Panama Video Diary entry by David Calvin reviews our day, which primarily consisted of a behind-the-scenes tour of the Panama Canal. Video footage includes 'Panamax' freighters passing through the locks of the canal.

One of the most interesting facts we learned at the Canal was that the rainforest provides all the water that it takes to move ships through the Panama Canal. All of the passages are possible only through gravity - water coming from the rainforest, filling the locks, and letting the ships rise and move forward. Conceivable, one of the tragedies of rainforest destruction could mean the eventual return of the nearly 8000 mile trips around Cape Horn, if total rain amounts fall and passage through the Panama Canal is no longer possible.

Interview with Lider Sucre, international Biodiversity Expert

While visiting Panama, the Paradise Earth Team was given the opportunity to interview Lider Sucre. Mr. Sucre is the Director of the Biodiversity Museum currently under construction in Panama City. In this interview, Mr. Sucre explains the experience visitors will have to the Museum, and also expands on the overall importance of biodiversity in our changing world.

For more on our interview with rainforest authority Lider Sucre, visit our website at www.paradiseearth.com

Panama Diary, Day 5

This diary entry logs our Paradise Earth Team's hike of the Quetzal Trail, over Volcan Baru. The physical toll that this strenuous journey took is apparent on the face of David Calvin as he retraces our day. Video footage of the trail and many of its amazing vistas is included. Enjoy!

Fer-de-lance Viper Video from Paradise Earth Kids TV

This video features David Calvin, one of our newest KidsTV reporters. The fer-de-lance vipers in the video were filmed during our expedition to Belize. Got an idea for a kids tv spot? Email or comment us!

Also, watch for our next KidsTv clip to be released soon, which features great footage of some amazing jaguars!

A lasting impression...

David Calvin forwarded an email to me yesterday. It was from Josue Chami, one of the young Embera men we met in the village in Panama. The subject line was 'he men', which I assume meant 'hey man'... in broken English, Josue was asking about how David was doing, and where on the Paradise Earth website he may be able to find the images, video, and information we had gathered about his village.

I found Josue's email fascinating for many reasons. First, he had taken the time and trouble during one of his infrequent visits to the city to get access to the Paradise Earth site and email David. Second, we had made enough of an impression that Josue cared to keep in touch (the thought of being on the web and tv is very motivating, even to a remote Indian tribe!) Mostly, though, I was moved by the last line of his email, "I miss you". David, as an individual, is an amazing human being. The wonderful thing he is able to do with this Paradise Earth project is touch the lives of people whom, a few months ago, we didn't even know existed. We are finding ways to directly aid the economy of the Embera, who have learned how to live in the rainforest without harming their environment. The overwhelming lesson I learned in Panama, and especially among the Embera, is that we can aid in rain forest preservation by spending our dollars wisely. Rest assured, many of my friends and family will be receiving handmade Embera baskets as gifts this year!

Char Mandarich, for Paradise Earth
Mandarich Media Group

The Embera Indians of Panama

One of the most interesting days we spent in Panama was with the Embera Indians. We traveled by bus from Panama City to a dock, where we were picked up by two Embera men in their dugout canoe. We traveled over an hour up the river to their village, where we were greeted with open arms by the entire village. The people were incredibly warm and friendly, and eager to share their culture with us. We were treated to demonstrations of dancing, basket-weaving, and one of the best meals we had on the entire trip (fresh fish, served in dishes made of large leaves).

David Calvin and the entire Paradise Earth team were extremely moved by these people. We recognized that they live in harmony with the rainforest, taking its fruits without destroying the land. David realized that he could have a direct impact on these peoples' economy by using Paradise Earth as an outlet to sell their beautiful, world-renowned baskets. He selected baskets and handgoods from every family in the village to sell on the Paradise Earth website, and promised the villagers that he would continue to do so as the Paradise Earth Project develops. Paradise Earth is proud to be able to contribute to a rainforest economy that promotes harmony instead of destruction!

** the music that accompanies the following slideshow was recorded in the Embera Village, as they welcomed us when we arrived **