By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California– In this affluent coastal community which gained fame in 2003 as the first U.S. mainland city to ban smoking on its public beaches, Steve Blumkin preaches what might be described as environmental tikkun olam. One of his particular interests lies several thousand miles to the south in the rain forest of Costa Rica.
A principal in the 02 Project–the name suggested by his twin sons–Blumkin advocates for fewer pollutants and more life-giving oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere. Recently he held a fundraiser in this city’s Belly-Up Tavern to help finance an educational project to assure that the children of Costa Rica will understand the importance of preserving their country’s natural resources.
Blumkin related in a recent interview that his interest in holistic medicine took him to the University of Arizona in the mid 1970s. With two friends, he decided to drive in a Scout International to the rainforests of Costa Rica, no easy task. He and two friends had to skirt the Sandinista conflict in Nicaragua and negotiate with border guards in Guatemala before arriving in Costa Rica. But the 3 1/2 month sojourn turned out to be a life-changing experience.
Blumkin volunteered, kibbutz style, on an organic vegetable farm in San Cristobal, and was taught about hydroponics and bromeliads by Robert Wilson, founder of the North Carolina-based Organization for Tropical Studies. In addition, Blumkin said he gained a command of the Spanish language and an awareness and respect for the indigenous people.
Blumkin happened upon a coffee farm in 1978 that was for sale. “Beshert” was the description he used to describe his first sight of it. A 3-hour boat ride, followed by a 3-hour pick-up truck ride put him in the right place at the right time.
At this same time Costa Rica’s rainforest system was established, forbidding hunting, deforestation and destruction of this spectacular Gan Eden. Using camera traps, Blumkin was able to view the biodiversity of this region. His cameras revealed jaguars, ocelots and Howler monkeys. Blumkin told me that this was too amazing not to be shared. He said he wanted to give children an understanding of what was at stake. Thus, the O2 project was born.
Dominque Aubin, O2 ‘s director of education, creates programs to expose children to exotic and spectacular aspects of the rainforest. Local biologists enter public schools in Costa Rica to educate the youth about recycling, composting and reusing resources. Blumkin said the approach is very interactive and therefore makes a lasting impression on these students.
Blumkin has only to look back to his ancestors to see where his visionary pioneering spirit is rooted. Rose Blumkin, paternal bubbe, escaped the Bolshevik Revolution. Blumkin said that she was “a miracle worker” and a philanthropist. He said that she was among the earliest female graduates of NYU. Blumkin’s father served under General George Patton during World War II, and according to Blumkin, was among the liberators at Dachau.
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Trieger is a freelance writer who may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com