The content of this blog represent my personal views and not those of the BBC
Wildscreen 2010: Multiplatform workshop
By Paul Williams on Wednesday, 1 September 2010Find out about this and other workshops at the Wildscreen festival website.
Breaking out of the Box – Multiplatform
14-10-2010, 10:00 - 13:00pm,
Marriot Hotel.
Do you Tweet, Tag, Ping, Follow or Poke? Are you hooked on Flickr, Tumblr, Delicious, Facebook, YouTube or Vimeo...? This workshop will give you an insight into the world of multiplatform, a world where you can put anything anywhere at anytime to create a unique and individual web experience.
You will work in teams to develop and pitch a multiplatform idea. Get to grips with the basics, understand some of the key tools available on the web, create and share content. Learn the rules, tips and tricks to producing a successful online presence, building and holding onto an audience.
I will be accompanied by a panel of experts:
Paul Deane (Senior Content Producer BBC Multiplatform)
Jeremy Torrance (Content Producer BBC Multiplatform)
Rachel Tomlinson (Assistant Content Producer BBC Multiplatform)
Together, this team have been responsible for much of the BBCs Natural History online output, from Springwatch and Big Cat Live, to the BBC's online compendium of life on Earth, Wildlife Finder.
Labels: Talks, Technology
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
Kings of the Road - An Elephant Blockade
By Paul Williams on Tuesday, 24 August 2010Excerpt from my blog 16th July 2009:
"Only a few hours ago, whilst driving through the BR Hills reserve on the search for Tigers we encountered three elephants blocking our route. Two large females and a small calf. It was getting dark and we needed to pass. Rather than startle them we switched off the engine and waited... hopefully they would return to the forest and allow us to pass. But rather than oblige us they slowly moved in our direction, lazily browsing on the vegetation as they came closer and closer. They were either oblivious to our presence or considered us of no threat - we knew that this mutual understanding could all change in the blink of an eye. The tiny calf was sandwiched between the colossal flanks of the two adults and it seemed pretty carefree as it swung its trunk around, occasionally resting its head against the side of one of its guardians. It was a real privilege to see such intimacy. As they exchanged caresses, their trunks touching and stroking each other, they were gentle giants slowly plodding towards us. We were lost in the moment, observing this beautiful scene as these magnificent animals simply went about their daily lives." Read more.
Unfortunately this video contains no footage of the moment we were charged by the large female. We all froze and didn't record this terrifying moment. I did however manage to grab a single shot on my stills camera.
Labels: Elephants, India, Video, Wildlife
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
You do get about. Come to Borneo - I can show you great wildlife. Ill speak by email.
Comment posted by , at 25/08/2010 16:32
Keep up the top notch work. Loved yr Ninja stuff he he.
Comment posted by , at 25/08/2010 23:31
'How To Build An Outside Cinema Screen' - Wu-How (The Ninja Guide to Pretty Much Everything)
By Paul Williams on Monday, 23 August 2010'How to wet shave properly' - Wu-How (The Ninja Guide to Pretty Much Everything)
By Paul Williams on Saturday, 14 August 2010View more on the BBC3 website and Wu-How blog.
'How to wet shave properly'
A clip from the Ninja 'How to' guide for those that need some fashion and styling advice.
Wu-How: A bunch of practical 'how to' tips to help you tackle tasks the ninja way, transforming you from beginner to expert in seconds.
Labels: Wu-How
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
Mr Williams - you are a case! Loved it when you fell back. Mike
Comment posted by , at 16/08/2010 22:35
Cool. How about Ninjas guide to wildlife?
Comment posted by , at 23/08/2010 11:50
If you could have been the author of any book, what would it have been?
By Paul Williams on Wednesday, 11 August 2010Purely for the financial incentives I would like to have authored the complete works of William Shakespeare, the English Dictionary or the Bible (but only if I could claim royalties). For sheer brilliance, wit and insight, I aspire to write like Bill Bryson - 'Walk in the Woods' with the necessary adventures to provide the stimulus, or 'A short History of nearly everything' for the wonderfully bizarre people and places he visited on his journey of discovery.
Anything by Richard Fortey would reflect a deep understanding of the history of the planet and of life on Earth, 'Trilobite, Eyewitness to Evolution', 'The Earth, an intimate history'. My love affair with the Natural History Museum in London compels me to wish that I could claim authorship of 'Dry Store room No.1' - the ultimate celebration of the peculiarities and the genius of the people I am privileged to have met and worked with there.
For a book which reflects a life of significance, achievement, modesty and charm I would love to have written 'Life on Air' which in turn would mean that I would have to be the legend and broadcaster that is Sir David Attenborough.
Failing all of that any edition of Viz sounds like it could be fun ;-)
Labels: formspring
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
It would have been a book which explains my theory on the universe. Look down in the microscope and you see molecular structure. Look up through a telescope and you see,'planets', molecular structure.It is obvious that we can be compared to a virus living on a cell and we are destroying it before we spread to the next one (probably mars). All theories about the universe are exactly that, theories. We tend to think we know everything but in reality I think we are not even scratching the surface. The planet earth has its 'antibiotics' and I believe that mankind is here for a short stay.
Comment posted by shaun, at 11/08/2010 18:50
Join me and Ninja friends on BBC3 for Wu-How tips
By Paul Williams on Tuesday, 10 August 2010In this episode of Wu-How I show you 'How to cook a gourmet meal at a festival'.
Tune in for more Wu-How Ninja tips from me and my pals on BBC3
This is the Ninja guide to pretty much everything. A bunch of practical 'how to' webisodes that help you complete day to day tasks the ninja way. These aren't patronising introductions but nuggets of wisdom that will transform you from beginner to expert in seconds. Your guide this time will be Domestic ninja, giving you juicy tips direct from the sacred ninja wisdom: Wu-how.
Labels: Wu-How
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
Fantastic work Paul. He he. Your funny! Reminds me of that dancing vid you posted. He he. I'll keep an eye on the Telly to see if you pop up anywhere else!
Comment posted by Katy Norman, at 12/08/2010 09:41
Cheeky (but cute). He he. r u growing a beard again? I think u should ;-)
Comment posted by \\xxx Lou Corp xxx//, at 12/08/2010 10:43
Nice work. I love dimwit TV especially after a few pints - wasnt there something like this on TV in the 80's?
Comment posted by , at 12/08/2010 11:37
The Deadliest place on Earth? Surviving Cueva de los Cristales - The Giant Crystal Cave
By Paul Williams on Wednesday, 28 July 2010Summary: Filming in the Giant Crystal Cave, one of the deadliest places on the planet.
Written as part of the TV series 'How Earth Made Us'. This series is also known as 'How the Earth Changed History' on National Geographic.
Watch a preview of the Crystal Cave sequence here.
It's 50oC and has a humidity of 100%, less than a hundred people have been inside and it's so deadly that even with respirators and suits of ice you can only survive for 20 minutes before your body starts to fail. It’s the nearest thing to visiting another planet – it’s going deep inside our own.
For 'How Earth made us' I have been lucky enough to film everywhere from tiny Pacific islands to the centre of the Sahara desert, yet nowhere could prepare me for filming in The Giant Crystal Cave - Cueva de los Cristales of Mexico.
Probably the most incredible photograph of the cave ever taken. Photograph by Carsten Peter/Speleoresearch & Films. Published in National Geographic.My director, Nigel Walk and I, arrived in the quiet town of Naica as the morning sun painted the Chihuuahua desert a golden hue - it was a serene moment of calm that wasn't to last long. Within minutes we were inside the mine complex tumbling and bumping our way downwards, deep into a subterranean world. The air became dusty, thick and heavy, my skin tingled as sweat exuded from every pore – deeper and deeper we went. If you were a miner in these unforgivable tunnels you might refer to this road as the highway to hell, but for the few outsiders who have made the journey it's a rite of passage to see one of the world’s most magnificent natural treasures.
1000 feet down, we arrived at the control room where conditions were already an exhausting 45oC and 55% humidity. Here we were greeted by Gonzalo Infante of Speleoresearch & Films, a larger than life character whose contagious passion for this inhospitable place had allowed us to come this far. For more than five years he has tirelessly worked to share the wonders of Naica with the world and to preserve them for future generations. It is his experience, and a 15 man team, that would keep us alive as we filmed this geological wonder.
‘You think this is hot’ said Gonzalo gesturing towards a vaulted iron door ‘This is just a cool breeze compared to what you’ll feel like in there’… ‘ready to go?’ At this point I had expected to be stepping into an oversized bright orange ice-suit and putting on a huge respirator backpack. Everyone else seemed to be dressed like characters from The Ghostbusters, but Gonzalo insisted that our first visit should be a completely raw experience allowing us to physically and mentally prepare, just in case, for whatever reason, we should end up spending much longer inside than we had anticipated …anxiously we heaved open the door and entered.
Entering the Chasm
Nigel and I intrepidly stepped forwards – to say that the heat hit us like a wall would be an understatement, my glasses steamed up and their metal frames almost burnt me - I had to leave them at the entrance. A slightly fuzzy view however did not perturb my sense of awe. I was dumbstruck. A torrent of sweat streamed from my head, my energy was being sucked away, and my breathing became heavy. The view was enthralling, my eyes led me forwards but my body wanted to retreat. I was dwarfed by a forest of giant gypsum crystals, some up to 12 metres long - the largest crystals ever discovered, some estimated to weigh as much as 55 tonnes. It was something that had to be seen to be believed and I was doing just that... however within just five minutes I had gone from a reasonably fit 30 year old to an asthmatic 60 year old – it is the antithesis to the elixir of life!
Aborted Relics
Cueva de los Cristales is the incarnation of our most awesome science fiction imaginations - Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Superman's Fortress of Solitude. At about the same time as humans first ventured out of Africa, these crystals began to slowly grow. For half a million years they remained protected and nurtured by a womb of hot hydrothermal fluids rich with minerals.
Undisturbed, one can only guess how big they may have eventually grown. Yet when mining began here over a hundred years ago, the water table was lowered and the cave drained. The crystals seemingly interminable development was frozen forever leaving them as aborted relics of the deep earth. It wasn't until 2001 that miners, searching for lead, eventually penetrated the cave wall and brought it to light. The very act of discovering and witnessing them has triggered their slow decay and now no one knows what their fate will be. Once the mine ceases to operate it could be flooded by polluted mine water and abandoned forever, and that's if ambitious mineral sellers don't get to them first and rip them out to sell around the world – a plight of other smaller crystal caves in the area. My hope is that Gonzalo will prevail in his mission to secure funding and to preserve this site as a world heritage monument. To me they are a testament to the hidden forces of the planet, forces which operate on scales far beyond our own.
Who knows what other wonders lie hidden deep inside the earth.
How Earth Made Us will be airing on BBC2 (UK) and National Geographic (USA) early in 2010.
Watch a preview of the Crystal Cave sequence here
Labels: How Earth Made Us, Naica Crystal Cave, Productions
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
Wow! What an amazing place.
Comment posted by Tom, at 02/12/2009 00:33
Neally every week is a dicovery,I knew these crystal caves existed but I have never seen them that huge.Fantastic photography.
Comment posted by Artstamers, at 02/12/2009 00:33
Amazing stuff Paul. I hope you guys have some behind the scene footage from this place for your How earth made us.
Comment posted by Kalyan Varma, at 02/12/2009 04:31
Wow, Wow, WOW. Incredible - unbelievable!
Comment posted by , at 02/12/2009 10:25
Amazing! Let's hope the site can be preserved for posterity.
Comment posted by , at 02/12/2009 10:56
Oh my goodness. As someone who collects crystals this cave would be all my birthdays at once! Well, bar the heat - I'm not good with that :P.
I saw a program about this on National Geographic a few weeks ago, and I'll definitely be watching this one when it airs!
Comment posted by Gaina, at 02/12/2009 22:26
Amazing. I predict a beer commercial will be filmed there within a year.
Comment posted by Michael Brashier, at 04/12/2009 21:06
Looks like a movie set -- the home of Superman, son of Jerel. How many people passed out in there? You look so exhausted in that one shot, your face all flushed and sweaty.
How can yanks see the show?
Love the blog.
Comment posted by , at 05/12/2009 15:38
Hi, no one passed out in the cave - although we were absolutely exhausted after every single trip inside. The doctor always seemed to have a concerned expression on his face which didn't full us with much confidence! The longest I lasted inside was 30 minutes - I was tasked to go to the very deepest part of the cave to get some of the wide shots. I was pretty relieved when I eventually crawled back out. If I had the chance I would go back in an instance. It is such a uniquely beautiful place that the pain and hardship is a small price worth paying.
Comment posted by Raptordig, at 07/12/2009 16:47
What are the crystals' composition?
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 02:35
You need robots !
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 02:47
Wow interesting.
Comment posted by freebie-link, at 13/12/2009 03:23
Thanks for sharing this. Wonderful photography and story.
Exactly what I was thinking as I opened this:
"Who knows what other wonders lie hidden deep inside the earth."
Hutch
Comment posted by John, at 13/12/2009 03:56
If I didn't already now about the existence of the cave, my first thought would be that the images were Photoshopped (particularly the first shot). Great article and great pictures. I sincerely hope this will be preserved for all to enjoy.
Comment posted by John, at 13/12/2009 04:04
Spectacular and almost unreal! Let's hope we can preserve it for as long as we possibly can. Thanks for sharing.
Comment posted by The Conscious Life, at 13/12/2009 05:17
did they find superman in there?
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 06:54
Boring.
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 13:25
Thanks for sharing this. Truly amazing pictures. I can't wait for the program to air.
I believe Gypsum is also known as Selenite and is extremely delicate. If I remember rightly it dissolves in water.
Let's hope something can be done to save this amazing cave.
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 15:43
This is so incredible... my question is HOW DID YOU LIGHT THOSE SHOTS? My sister worked in the Natural Bridge Caverns one summer, and I learned from her that lighting caves like this successfully miles below ground without damaging the structures is terribly difficult. My guess is that the first image (which is absolutely stunning) has been heavily photoshopped. (Note: if that is the case, it does NOT detract from the authenticity or magic of the image...sometimes in order to to justice to reality we have to bend what we get from photos, which are an imperfect medium!) I am just intrigued by the technical challenges of working photographically in such an extreme environment.
Comment posted by Robbybox333, at 13/12/2009 16:34
Also, (just out of curiosity) how did you know the crystals would support your weight as you walked along them!?!
Comment posted by Robbybox333, at 13/12/2009 16:37
Only 20 minuts to go death uhhhhhhhh
Comment posted by photofunny, at 13/12/2009 19:37
why some crystal shine and other dont? nice ambient light, its like the superman cave!
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 19:49
the correct name of the state is: Chihuahua, not 'Chihauhau'
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 20:23
Fantastic! Who know what lies under us indeed... the only I have to bitch about is the spelling of Chihuahua ;).
Comment posted by , at 13/12/2009 23:53
I have corrected the spelling of Chihuahua. Thanks for pointing this out and also thanks to everyone for all the comments.
Comment posted by Raptordig, at 14/12/2009 00:25
FAKE !
Comment posted by alvaro, at 14/12/2009 01:50
Just a copy...
http://www.naica.com.mx/internas/interna3_4.htm
Comment posted by havok, at 14/12/2009 06:54
Awesome! thanks
Comment posted by sergio, at 14/12/2009 12:12
I'm proud to be mexican, I was born near to La Cueva de los Cristales in the northern state of Chihuahua, Mexico. VIVA MEXICO CABRONES!!!
Comment posted by Apolo, at 14/12/2009 16:02
LOL exhausted.
50 c is just a normal summer day in Sri Lanka.
People explore 100% humidity environments for hours with camera's. It's called water.
Get some downsized scuba gear, and Sri Lankan scientists. No fat white guys like in the pic above.
Perhaps they can also put an air conditioner in, get some circulation going in the cave. Turn it into a themed restaurant. Or perhaps keep in nice and hot market it as a quick weight loss spa all in commercial interests of course.
Comment posted by , at 16/12/2009 08:24
That is REALLY cool... so much we don't know yet about our own planet... and that's only 1k feet deep... and in one spot in the world lol
Comment posted by Chuck Reynolds, at 16/12/2009 08:55
Hi Cat, All I can assume is that you have never experienced 50oC and 100% humidity constantly for more than a few minutes in a Sauna. Try working in a very hot and steamy sauna, carrying heavy camera equipment and scrambling over huge jagged crystals. Not only do you sweat buckets but water gathers on your lungs (as this is the coolest point in the cave) and your respiration quickly deteriorates. It is not a pleasant experience. I have worked in incredibly hot deserts and very humid rainforests and I can assure you that the conditions inside the Crystal Cave are something else completely. Thanks for reading this post - some interesting suggestions on how to preserve the cave! Best wishes, Paul
Comment posted by Paul Williams, at 16/12/2009 09:52
Amazing article and pictures, thanks so much for sharing, Paul. I can't wait to see the programme when it airs and I will be following your blog from now on - you do good work!
Hannah x
Comment posted by bubbleboo, at 16/12/2009 16:09
Great article! Is that the Sony V1U you're using in the picture, or a different model? I can't believe you're not using some sort of housing! How did it hold up?
Comment posted by aMeta4, at 16/12/2009 17:38
In the photo I'm using a Sony EX3. We also used various mini-cams and a full sized Varicam2700. All kit worked absolutely fine. To prevent condensation we put the cameras & lenses into sealed plastic bags and left them in the cave overnight. This allowed them to heat up to the same temperature as the cave, so there were no cool surfaces for water to condense onto. The only problem was that the cameras were sometimes too hot to operate!
Comment posted by Paul Williams, at 16/12/2009 18:46
Amazing place and amazing photos! Chihuahua is still misspelt though ;)
Comment posted by , at 17/12/2009 05:46
"To me they are a testament to the hidden forces of the planet, forces which operate on scales far beyond our own."
scales far beyond our own, indeed. great story and great shots. our world never ceases to amaze me.
Comment posted by Eric, at 17/12/2009 17:48
Whats the deth of this cave-and are there-under ground lakes of any kind this location.
Comment posted by , at 18/12/2009 16:13
Just to let you know: the link to the National Geographic article is wrongly hyperlinked to the BBC site. Fantastic post though, thanks for sharing.
Comment posted by , at 18/12/2009 18:25
The cave is buried 300metres beneath the desert. Scientists believe that there is a cavern nearby that would dwarf this one. But it would be almost impossible to reach - Gonzalo is currently making a documentary about this exploration.
There must be some water reserves in the area. Naturally the cavern would be beneath the water table but this has been lowered to allow mining.
Comment posted by Paul Williams, at 19/12/2009 11:06
The lighting looks like it was done with 'painting with light'. A well known technique where multiple flashes are fired over a long exposure period. Perhaps you had multiple flashes and did it all at once, but you can clearly see that there are multiple hot zones where the light is very bright -- the flash unit would be nearby.
AWESOME photograph. As a former caver / surveyor -- well done!
Comment posted by Alan@polyphase.ca, at 20/12/2009 04:18
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
Comment posted by , at 26/12/2009 23:26
I saw a film on that cave this fall - not sure if it was yours, but WOW, what an incredible place. You're so lucky to have seen it/experienced it.
Comment posted by , at 28/12/2009 00:47
amazing photos!
Comment posted by Steve, at 30/12/2009 01:20
Absolutely incredible!! It looks surreal.
Comment posted by dalbecphoto, at 02/01/2010 02:02
Who could imagine that such a place existed? So beautiful and awe- inspiring! Thanks for the story and pictures!
Comment posted by Gail, at 08/01/2010 14:36
They should start mining this place for it's resources.
That is true beauty.
Comment posted by , at 08/01/2010 19:01
WTF is 50°C? Why not post temperature in units somebody other than the French use?
Comment posted by , at 09/01/2010 02:06
@Anonymous "WTF is 50 degrees C?"
122 ºF
For your information: Celsius is used by 300 million people in Europe. In other words: not just the French.
Oh, did I mention that the Chinese use Celsius as well? That's another 1,000,000,000.
(mutters: "Jeez, those yankees...")
Comment posted by onno, at 09/01/2010 15:34
hardly news lads, these mines were discovered in 1794 and mined since the early 1900's.
Comment posted by nodnodwinkwink, at 09/01/2010 19:38
Celsius is the predominant temperature scale used in the world. The only places that still use Fahrenheit are the US and a small handful of other countries. Celsius (and Kelvin) is used in every scientific field, whereas Fahrenheit is used for non-scientific purposes only.
Comment posted by , at 10/01/2010 00:21
Ya this place is crazy! i think whoa when this place can kill for sweating!
Comment posted by Supplement Reviews, at 10/01/2010 02:02
This just blows my mind! Amazing!
Comment posted by , at 11/01/2010 21:50
In reference to the part of your post about protecting this place from the mineral sellers....I am absolutely disgusted by people who can look at a site as beautiful as this, or a forest of trees or a herd of buffalo, and only think of how they can somehow profit from it. We should all feel very grateful for people like Gonzalo.
Comment posted by , at 12/01/2010 07:09
You can now see a preview clip of thise sequence here: http://www.ironammonite.com/2010/01/video-deadliest-place-on-earth-giant.html The series starts on Jan 19th at 9pm on BBCTwo.
Comment posted by Paul Williams, at 13/01/2010 13:33
If it were a movie set depicting another planet, I would probably complain how phony and unrealistic the movie was.
Comment posted by , at 13/01/2010 13:35
Again....this is something new....something hidden from the outer world....man i wana be there now...awesome, you guys are lucky....wonder where i can watch the whole film and when it will be released outside US and UK
Comment posted by Mesh, at 14/01/2010 14:46
Another amazing example of the creative work of the Lord Jesus.
He is the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them.
Comment posted by , at 15/01/2010 14:36
Hmm.. i wonder why it is not more famous ? The pic surely looks like another planet.
Comment posted by Aman, at 16/01/2010 07:38
Simply unbelievable. Looks exactly like Superman's Fortress of Solitude. Never seen anything like that. WOW!
Comment posted by , at 19/01/2010 11:15
I am worry that all this beautiful place will be destroyed by "ecoturists" and "scientists".
Sadly money comes first than conservation of nature.
Later "gringos" just come to Mexico to do what they cannot do in their country :-(
Comment posted by Maria2, at 20/01/2010 16:14
An amazing example of Celenite. question though, from beyond a scientific standpoint and answering more in the spiritual or energy side to crystals of this sort, when you entered into this opening did you notice any palpable energies emitted from there?
Comment posted by , at 22/01/2010 08:31
Doesn't sound too bad.. I mean, we Finnish people are used to spend up to 1-2 hours in the sauna with 80-100Celsius (or more, even) and 100% humidity drinking beer and having a laugh. What a bunch of sissies you are!
Comment posted by , at 26/01/2010 18:49
China and Russia put the blame on some screwed up experiments of US for the earthquake that happened in Haiti.
Chinese and Russian Military scientists, these reports say, are concurring with Canadian researcher, and former Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief of Forbes Magazine, Benjamin Fulford, who in a very disturbing video released from his Japanese offices to the American public, details how the United States attacked China by the firing of a 90 Million Volt Shockwave from the Americans High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facilities in Alaska
If we can recollect a previous news when US blamed Russia for the earthquake in Georgio. What do you guys think? Is it really possible to create an earthquake by humans?
I came across this [url=http://universalages.com/hot-news/what-happened-in-haiti-is-it-related-to-haarp/]article about Haiti Earthquake[/url] in some blog it seems very interesting, but conspiracy theories have always been there.
Comment posted by , at 04/02/2010 14:24
Gosh, i just saw these on tv. The most crazy thing about them is you cant sweat! Your body can only take it for 30 mins or so down there..
Comment posted by Car Insurance Questions, at 14/03/2010 05:38
awesome! i know I'm not gonna make it! but the place looks good
thanks for sharing
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sample hardship letter
Comment posted by gabby, at 04/06/2010 08:49
amazing.......mindblowing stuff...unbelievable!!!!!!!!!! good job...:)
Comment posted by , at 24/08/2010 15:44
If we can recollect a previous news when US blamed Russia for the earthquake in Georgio. What do you guys think? Is it really possible to create an earthquake by humans?
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Comment posted by Zulfi, at 06/09/2010 10:24
China: An Empire Risen from the Dust
By Paul Williams on Friday, 25 June 2010Written as part of the TV series 'How Earth Made Us'. This series is also known as 'How The Earth Changed History' on National Geographic, USA.
Paul Williams, Assistant Producer
Winds of Change
The prevailing westerly winds act like a huge conveyor belt that blows this dust all the way to central China. Here it's deposited and mixed with rotten plant matter to become a light, fertile soil — perfect for farming. As early as 10,000 years ago, this slab of fertile dust became a seed for the Neolithic revolution and was one of the first sites of rice cultivation in the world. This dust is better known as loess, and the slab it forms is the Loess Plateau, over a thousand feet thick and covering an area almost the size of France.
Revolution to Empire
Caves in the Loess Plateau were not only constructed as a testament to religion and power, but for centuries they have provided insulated shelter from the cold winters of the region. Even today it is estimated that over a million people still live in the man-made caves known as Yaodong. In the 1930s, they provided the headquarters and home for Chairman Mao Zedong and his communist party — once again the Loess Plateau was the focal point for great change in China.
What began with loess led to empires and dynasties, art and religion. And it was all made possible by the winds. China was lucky. It found itself at the end of a wind pattern that delivered some of the finest quality soil in the world. But that's not the end of the story...
Chinas Sorrow
In 1938, during a war with Japan, Chinese troops were ordered to break the levees holding back the river in order to stop the encroaching Japanese. This flooding of an area of 54,000 square kilometres did destroy its intended target, but, along with the Japanese army, it also killed an estimated 9 million Chinese.
The Loess Plateau, which was once the treasured heart of the empire, is now a major issue for the Chinese government. In the 1990s, they launched the Loess Plateau Watershed Rehabilitation Project in a bid to reverse centuries of neglect. Local people have been educated about sustainable farming practice, and thousands of trees have been planted. Nature is now reclaiming a portion of the Loess Plateau and slowly returning it to its former glory. It is hoped that, with time, more of the land will be made arable, and the load on 'China's Sorrow' will be lessened.
Image: China's Loess Plateau was once covered with natural forests, but high winds and thousands of years of clear-cutting for agricultural purposes have created one of the world's worst soil-erosion problems. Here, a government tree-restoration project aimed at stabilizing the soil and reducing erosion covers miles of hillside on the plateau. Photograph by Jim RichardsonLabels: China, How Earth Made Us, Productions
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
I love China but it saddens me to hear about such disasters. Sounds like more needs to be done.
Comment posted by , at 23/08/2010 14:34
The Browning of Australia & The First Revolution
By Paul Williams on Wednesday, 23 June 2010Written as part of the TV series 'How Earth Made Us'. This series is also known as 'How The Earth Changed History' on National Geographic, USA.
Paul Williams, Assistant Producer
The First Revolution
Australia did have one thing in common with these 'cradles of civilisation' - well crafted stones tools. Used for grinding seeds they can be found scattered across the continent, some dating back 30,000 years - 20,000 years earlier than anywhere else on Earth. In most civilizations these tools seem to be a prerequisite for the Neolithic transition but here, given a head-start, farming never took off.
You might think that’s because it’s parched and dry. But it’s just as much to do with the wind.
The Eternal Joy Ride
65 million years ago, while dinosaurs where breathing their last, Australia was commencing a slow northward journey leaving behind the cool chill of the polar region and eeking its way towards warmer climes snugly situated between 10 and 43o latitude. This led Australia straight into the hands of one of the planets most powerful phenomena - The Hadley Cell, a giant powerful circulation of air which wraps around the entire globe.
These cells have a grasp on the planet which begins at the equator. Here the sun is at its hottest – so the air is continually rising, as it rises over the tropics any moisture condenses and falls on the rainforests below - an equatorial band of thunderstorms mark out its ascension. At a height of 10 to 15kms the dry air cools as it continues to spread away from the equator, until between 20 and 30 degrees latitude it sinks back to Earth, heating up again in the process.
The Browning of Australia
To really appreciate this browning it helps to be in the centre of Australia, and to be up high. Mount Connor, Attila to the aborigine people, is a monolithic giant standing proud in an otherwise flat and featureless landscape. It lies at the geographical and spiritual centre of Australia, and it also lies at the heart of an incredible circular wind system. The descending air is influenced by a myriad of atmospheric protuberances, and deflected by the spin of the earth, to create a giant anticlockwise swirl around most of the continent.
Over millions of years the winds and the planets tectonic forces conspired to deal a tough hand to the ancient peoples of Australia. With large areas of the continent bare and arid, continuing with a hunter gatherer lifestyle made more sense than taking up farming. Rather than relying on one or two intensive crops, they diversified into a wide range of wild food sources. And instead of living in permanent settled communities they lived in small, mobile groups, always able to move in search of food.
Labels: Australia, How Earth Made Us, Productions
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
BBC Wild Night In: YOUR chance to help Save Wildlife
By Paul Williams on Friday, 18 June 2010
I'm lucky to work for the BBC Natural History Unit and I'm very proud of our rich heritage. For more than 50 years we've brought you the most awesome natural spectacles and revealed the intimate lives of everything from the smallest insect to the largest whale. Now more than one third of all known species are under threat - do they have more than a future on film? The BBC Wildlife fund was created as an opportunity to give something back and help wildlife around the world. We've been doing all we can to help raise money and awareness and now its CRUNCH time, we need to raise over two million pounds to keep the fund going. Every single penny will be given to a wildlife project. On Sunday night I'll be down at London Zoo with the Springwatch crew helping with the Live Broadcast of 'BBC Wild Night In' on BBC Two. It's like 'Children in Need' for Wildlife. This is your chance to do something positive and to help organisations who are working to save some of the planets most endagered species. "We owe it not only to the wildlife but to the next generation, to create a healthier planet for all."
Here's a few things you can do right now to help get the night started with a BANG...
DONATE: Click here
BID IN THE WILD AUCTION
Bid for 'money can't buy' items like the Springwatch sofa or a Wildlife Walk with BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine in the Wild Auction. This will take you to the charity auction section of eBay. The BBC Wildlife Fund will receive 100% of the proceeds.
'Sunchyme 2010' by Dario G will help raise funds for the BBC Wildlife Fund appeal this year.
40p or more from the sale of this single will be donated to the BBC Wildlife Fund so why delay, get your dancing shoes on and get down to Dario G's 'Sunchyme 2010'
Sir David Attenborough holds an image of a Panamanian golden frog, now thought to be extinct in the wild.
We filmed these frogs in 2007 for Life in Cold Blood. Soon after filming, the chytrid fungus (which kills amphibians) was discovered in the area. In order to keep these frogs safe from the fungus, scientists removed them from the wild. For the time being the frogs live in captivity.
Posted by Paul Williams ![]()
We'll be watching & donating! Thanks for helping to spread the word about this important project.
Comment posted by , at 20/06/2010 14:06
Thanks Paul. Ive donated. Definitely a very worthy cause. Good LUCK!!!
Comment posted by , at 20/06/2010 17:58






























