Established in 2008, the Freedom to Create Prize is a celebration of the courage and creativity of artists around the world who use their talents to promote social justice, build the foundations for open societies and inspire the human spirit. It is open to artists in all creative fields. Each year, US$125,000 in prize money is awarded across three categories: Main, Youth and Imprisoned Artist.

Freedom to Create (www.freedomtocreate.com) is a global movement of creative people who are changing the world.

To apply for the prize, click here, or visit the Freedom to Create website for more information. The application process is open until August 15, 2010.

Last weekend, I went to Tasmania! Oh man, that place is so cool. Talk about beautiful—whew! Ryan and I stayed in the guest-hut of a family that lives in a valley near Cygnet, south of Hobart. It was very tiny, made of sticks and stones, and surrounded by thumping wallabies at night. The milky way was so bright we barely recognized the sky at all.

Tasmania is a place that has been embroiled in socio-environmental controversies throughout the last few decades. I’ve mentioned Matthew Newton’s photographs of old-growth logging there, as well as Ricky Maynard’s gorgeous images about indigenous people, culture and conflicts in Tasmania.

During the weekend’s visit, my host, Peat, told me about another photographer who has had a major impact on the Tasmanian landscape, Peter Dombrovskis. I want to tell you the story that Peat told to me.

In the late 70’s, there was a movement to dam Australia’s last remaining wild river, the Franklin River, which runs through Tasmania. Now, if you aren’t already aware of these stats, Australia is a continent the size of the USA, with radically less water falling onto it or running through it. It has a population of 22 million, as opposed to the U.S.’s 300 million. Despite currently having the most water per person of any continent, that water is over-allocated (literally, more water has been allocated to different human uses than is available), leaving many of its aquatic ecosystems in distress—birds, fish, plants, trees and other animals that live in or around the rivers are dying off at a terrifying pace.

So the idea that the last remaining wild river on the entire continent (or near it, since Tasmania is an island off the southeastern coast of Australia) was about to be dammed inspired a huge backlash among the population.

A senator named Bob Brown began a campaign against the damn. And he asked a Tasmanian landscape photographer named Peter Dombrovskis to take a trip up the Franklin, and see if he could make some pictures. In the end, the campaign centered around a single photograph.

This image by Peter Dombrovskis became the cornerstone of a conservation movement in Australia. That movement gave rise to the Green Party, which has grown to become a major political force here. This picture galvanized protesters and public opinion, which eventually helped stop the dam from being built. How amazing is that?!

For some more info, I recommend watching this clip from “Wildness,” a film made about the campaign in 2002. There’s also a good summary on wikipedia, and an article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Eliza Gregory writes a weekly blog for PhotoPhilanthropy.

One of the most powerful essays I’ve seen is by Matthew Newton who photographed logging in the forests of Tasmania on behalf of the Huon Valley Environment Centre. His images have incredible storytelling power. He starts off by giving us a pair of images that sums up the controversy. (And it helps that he writes specific, direct captions.)

He uses text within the frame—badges, signs, patches, tape—to help describe the complexities of this battle. He magnifies the marketing and communication that the people involved have initiated in order to articulate what’s going on.

He also zooms in and out on the issue,  photographing radically different environments and situations, which strengthens the narrative. He shows us that this is a story of individuals, of civic institutions, of an industry, and of a landscape and a region, as we see here:

This is just a killer essay. The one thing that shocks me is that it’s so recent. It looks like a fight that was fought decades ago. But it’s happening now.

To see more essays, click on the photographs below:

Neil Osborne, on behalf of SEE Turtles

Eric Graham on behalf of ACCA

Anne Marie Musselman on behalf of Nyaru Mengteng Orangutan Sanctuary

seduced by the soft, warm breeze, Spanish mosses in gray green curtains billowing out from every tree, pink azaleas

beginning to escape from their buds into a southern spring. On the other, trash caught in grass emerging along

roadways, an oil slick circling with an eddy on an estuary, and abandoned buildings leaning into one another

between grande dames in neat brick from another century.

While the news is full of “the economy” and “health care” , I can’t help but wonder what measuring stick we use when

it comes to how we view “the other” in the world right at our door step. What can we do at our own back  door

to help someone left out of the stimulus package or who might benefit more from a kind word, shared supper, or even

just a walk in a beautiful park with fountains, flowers, and grass than one small pill?

I’m taking a moment today to find new ways to give back to the Universe for the gifts I have been given by my parents and others who showed me how to look at Nature through eyes of wonder and find peace in the smallest flower.

What   can I do today to share that flower? that beauty? to give hope to someone else?

Many, I understand, still live around the old dump area in Stung Meanchey. Have their lives improved or are they living even more desperate and impoverished existence ? Have those who came from Rural Cambodia returned to their former homes ? These are just some of the questions that I would like to find answers too, but, I am sure many more unanswered question will be raised during the course of my research.

Please read more about it and help make it happen at Kickstarter: Potosi, Bolivia Miners: 5 Centuries Deep.

A miner in Potosi, Bolivia

Head over to blogactionday.org for more information.

• World Animal Day Boston.com’s The Big Picture has some great photos of animals in support of bringing attention to endangered and threatened species.
• How to Become a Photojournalist Some great photography advice can be found here, even for the amateur photographer not interested in a career in photography.
• Six Ways for Non-Profits to Survive the Economic Storm Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog gives some great advice (as usual).
• In Words and Pictures: The Democratic Republic of the Congo Magical Places Fine Art has a comprehensive summary of the situation in the DR Congo: “The International Rescue Committee estimate that as many as 45,000 people die in the Democratic Republic of the Congo every month. I take a look at this tragic, war-torn country through the eyes of a writer and six photojournalists.”
• Childrren Shot Dead in West Bank Village Some very moving photos from Zoriah, a war and documentary photographer now covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The boys’ families then took me to the local graveyard and showed me the makeshift memorials that they set up for each child. The slap of my shutter seemed inappropriately loud as it shattered the silence in the cemetery.” ©Zoriah – www.zoriah.com

These are just a few of the headline topics you may have seen over the past year. Like you, I too, found myself concerned and wondering what might possibly be done to combat these harrowing problems. With rising food prices and tainted produce dominating the headlines, as well as the proliferation of diet induced diseases, I felt more motivated than ever to share my gardening knowledge to help others. Thus, Homegrown for Health and Economy was founded on July 6, 2008.

What would you say if I told you there is a very simple, traditional, and low-cost way to combat these global health and environmental issues from the comfort of your own back yard? The answer? Home gardening. There are many benefits of vegetable and herb gardening, some of which include:

• Health Benefits
  Gardens provide fresh, healthy, non-toxic, disease free produce. The availability, richer flavor, and low cost encourages better eating habits. Gardening is also a great, low-impact form of exercise.
• Economic Benefits
  One $2.00 tomato or pepper plant can yield several pounds of produce as opposed to purchasing one pound for the same amount at the grocery store. Starting plants from seed offers additional savings versus purchasing plants at the nursery. Preserving your surplus harvest can provide grocery savings throughout the winter months- various methods such as canning, drying or freezing can be utilized. In tough economic times, these savings can make a significant positive impact on your monthly budget.
• Environmental Benefits
  Eating locally reduces emissions caused by food shipment services. Plants filter the air and produce fresh, clean oxygen. Gardens provide sanctuary to beneficial insects like honey bees and lady bugs. They also attract birds, butterflies, and other interesting visitors.
• Social Benefits
  Sharing your knowledge and passion with others gives a perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors. Gardening provides quality time for your family – children love to dig in the dirt! Beautiful gardens brought by hard work and cooperation can bring a new sense of pride to yourself and to the community.

In order to raise awareness of this simple solution to these large global problems, I’ve done a lot of online activism. I’ve been posting answers to various gardening questions on forums and blogs, asking friends and using other sites to spread the word about the website at change.org, and e-mailing various politicians and the Secretary of Agriculture about raising awareness. I am also co-chairperson of the Environment Advisory Committee for a presidential candidate.

I hope to host an informational seminar at our local community center this spring here in Michigan. I intend on producing an informational video series for distribution on the web that explains how to start from seeds and continue all the way to harvest. I also plan on developing a short program to present to local school children. Part of the goal of Homegrown is to get other gardeners involved in educating their own local communities in ways such as these.

There are a great many reasons to start your own garden this spring, or get your friends and neighbors involved if you’ve already got one of your own. You may argue that you just don’t have the space or time for a garden. Did you know that many herbs and vegetables can be grown in pots or buckets on a small porch or apartment balcony? There are even products now available to provide automatic watering to your plants if you find you are pressed for time. Fresh, healthy, toxin-free ingredients are well worth the few hours of maintenance each week.

If you need help and advice, there are a plethora of sources online, some of which include: pathtofreedom.com, organicgardening.com and motherearthnews.com. As far as printed material, I’ve found some great tips in The Old Farmer’s Almanac and highly suggest the book “The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” by Edward C. Smith. A good place to look for quality seed is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at rareseeds.com. The seeds are not genetically engineered and they offer over 1200 varieties at very reasonable prices

In addition to the environmental issues showcased by the photographers, Pictet & Cie also wishes to bring awareness to the organizations working to solve the problems. An award of 40,000 Francs will be given to an organization working to solve environmental issues at the award ceremony in October.