Articles on Environmental Issues

Yangtze River Dolphin Extinct - David Hobbs - August 8, 2007
I will never see all the beauty nature has to offer in my lifetime but I certainly relish the
opportunity to try. Now I learn I've been definitively denied one such opportunity,
regardless of how unlikely it might have ever been in the first place. A living creature has
been struck from the books and I will never see one in the wild. The Yangtze River
dolphin has gone missing and is presumed extinct. Cause - Boat traffic, over fishing,
pollution and a bloated government unwilling or unable to effectively intervene.

The recent addition of the Yangtze River Dolphin to the list of extinct animals gave us pause for thought. We are a
site devoted to adventure. The outdoors and adventure go hand in hand. As such, we've accepted a responsibility
to do our part by reporting on issues that impact the environments in which we play including species and habitat
loss, access restrictions, sport impact and tips on how we can all contribute to keeping our wilderness playgrounds
healthy.

How can you help? For starters, we've directly pursued the privilege of advertising for the Sierra Club, an
organization that actively makes the world and wilderness a better place for us all. Visit them and let the
world know you're making a difference!

While we did not set out to have this site focus on environmental issues, BreakAway will add to its mission the
goal of finding and providing you with additional information and resources to keep you informed and empowered
to make our world a better place. Check back soon for more but, for now, please read our commentary on the
extinction of the Yangtze River Dolphin. We hope this sobering article will give you pause for thought and
encourage you to consider how you can make a difference in the world today, before it's too late for another poor
creature.

Impact Consciousness - David Hobbs - August 13, 2007
As adventure sport enthusiasts, odds are we all have an impact on the environment to
one degree or another. Rock Climbing, my sport of choice, for example, can result in
any of the following - Erosion from frequent hikes to prime climbing destinations, damage
to trees from improperly rigging anchors without considering the tree's circulation, habitat
disruption for nesting birds and other animals, pollution (garbage left behind), aesthetic
concerns (spoiling the view for other nature lovers who share the same...

Ok, not the most popular subject in the world and hardly an easy one to write
about but, as a popular book proclaims, everybody does it. Most of us can
thank civil engineering for sewers and waste treatment plants that allow us to
"fire and forget" when it comes to our own waste, but we're rarely so blessed
when out in the wilderness. Aside from personal inconvenience, there are a
number of environmental issues and courtesy concerns involving our poop that,
while less than savory subject matter, very much do warrant discussion.