EKOS Communications, Inc.

I received word that some of you found the tone of my last blog "a bit off." The feedback prompted me to re-read it and I have to agree.

The tone seems to imply that EKOS Communications was solely about business. That is blatantly untrue. It arose from, and still does, a profound sense of life purpose to save the planet...our one and only home...oikos, as the Greeks called it.

The antipathy evident within the previous blog sprang from frustrations and pent-up resentment directed towards associated with carry-over legal and financial obligations that continue to dominate too many of my weekday evenings and weekends.

The planet is in one helluva mess, because of us. Never before has our science been more alarmist in tone. Our collective bad habits now threaten to overwhelm planetary systems that have made life possible on this chunk of rock hurtling through space. 

I'm utterly and fervently believe that our only hope is that we wake up in time to avert this unprecedented eco-spasm.

Not that it can be completely averted. It's too late for that. Many of the ecological changes we have set in motion are now out of our control. The best we can hope for is to minimize the mounting suffering and loss. How much we can do so is not known so we must act in faith that our individual and collective efforts towards this end can and will help bring about its realization. 

Stop the damage and healing the wounds is solely dependent upon us take full responsibility for our actions. No matter how small and seemingly insignificant they may seem. For as we are seeing being played out, the tiny changes set in motion can and often do cascade into much greater changes with deadly unintended consequences.

Taking full responsibility implies that we become ecologically literate, that is, we understand, respect and abide by the principles that support and restore life. All life...not just human life.

This brings me to the core of what EKOS Communications is really all about...finding ways to share those principles and their application as broadly as possible thereby contributing to the great waking up.

I take back what I said about EKOS being asleep. Maybe more like just dozing, allowing me to dream and envision where I want to take it next.

Keep up the good fight each and everyone of you. Time is short and very precious.   

As of Dec. 31st, EKOS Communications as an incorporated entity ceased to exist and returned to operating as a sole proprietorship. The change was motivated by a need to reduce overhead costs, since there has been little to no activity to drum up business and revenue since I took on the full-time gig with Ocean Networks Canada in the fall of 2009.

Quite frankly, I simply don't have the energy or drive when I get home at the end of the day nor on weekends to engage in more work. Don't get me wrong. I love my job. So much so that I pour 150 - 200% of myself into it. But I'm often exhausted after work and need time in which to replenish my reserves. The thought of having to sit down after supper to run a business as well makes me want to upchuck.

Perhaps, in time, this feeling of revulsion will pass. I don't know. So for now, I'm letting EKOS sleep.

June 11, 2010: As many of you know, seven months ago I took on a new challenge, that as Manager of Communications and Engagement with Ocean Networks Canada. This is a full-time gig for the next three - four years and possibly longer. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, the opportunity to work with VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada ocean observatories to advance ocean literacy among Canadians was just too great of an opportunity to pass up. However, it leaves precious little time for much in the after work hours, especially since I'm also still supervising a graduate student in the Masters of Environmental Education and Communication program at Royal Roads University.

Meanwhile, Starr has gone on maternity leave with the birth of a second child; she is not likely to be able to re-engage with EKOS Communications until the late fall or winter.

As a consequence, EKOS Communications has been pretty quiet for the past while and will likely remain so until the end of the year.

This is not to say that there haven't been some exciting developments! Such as the release of the WildCoast Primer which we produced in association with Parks Canada - Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve. We hope that many people and communities will download the primer and use it to reduce the potential risks of conflicts between people, pets and large predators (wolves and cougars).

Also, we're super excited that Shaw Communications are broadcasting our two BC Parks 100th videos province-wide starting now and running until the end of 2011! Viewers in the Greater Victoria and Salt Spring region of BC can catch the videos over the next couple of weeks:

Strathcona - BC's first provincial park  Saturday –930am, 11pm     Sunday - 130pm + 730pm  June 19-20.... 

 BC Parks- Celebrating 100 years of Recreation and Protection  Saturday–930am,  11pm  Sun- 130pm, + 730pm June 26-27....                                          

BC Parks will also be posting the two videos to their special 100th website www.bcparks100.ca so wander over there sometime to check it out. It would appear that they are putting all of their celebration focus on Strathcona and hope to raise enough money through donations and the like to do some badly needed repair for trails and facilities in the park. So don't be bashful about pledging some financial support!

Till the next update then. Have a great summer!

Rick Searle