Category: humanity

Clear Cut

Clear Cut

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What if you came home and found that your neighbor had clear cut beloved trees from your yard…thirteen of your friends that gave you shade, buffer from winds, and helped keep the slope above your home from eroding. One of my neighbors experienced just that this week and our neighborhood is truly sick about it.

In order to improve her view, the resident above the clearcut had a guy cut 33 trees from her view–20 of her trees and 13 of the neighbor below…going 22 feet into the other person’s property to cut trees over 38 inches in circumference. What would you do? How would you handle it?

I was called in to document through photographs and measurements this rape on our mountain. I called on a sister spirit and neighbor to go with me to visit our other neighbor who was completely devastated by this arrogant and mindless event. Thank goodness it was pouring rain while we were working as I was so angry the rain cooled my temper.

We have a convenant that clearly states that clear cutting is not allowed. We have fines in place for cutting trees over 24 inches in circumference. But this homeowner, in an effort to improve her view, cut trees that were holding an already-eroding slope. When her home slides down the mountain perhaps she will be able to put two-and-two together to realize that the covenant rules are not to make life difficult, they are to protect the slopes and homes of our neighborhood. Or maybe she’s preparing to sell the house and wanted to improve her chances of selling by improving her view. Regardless, we are heartbroken at this act of selfishness.

As I tromped through the wasteland of trees and mud I felt like I was at the Gulf Coast, reliving the emotions created by the selfish, arrogant acts of a corporation we know as BP. That same sick feeling came over me as I felt the common thread of humans that lay waste to the environment and act irresponsibly, answering to no one.

There is no clear cut way to handle something like this so I keep asking for strength and courage to face such devastation and work even harder and more diligent to educate the ignorant and encourage those who already care. Every act of violence on the planet and on our neighbors must be met with dedication to caring for the Earth and each other.

The Nature of Respect

The Nature of Respect

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Wharf crabs
How much impact does a species have to have on you to gain your respect? Does it need to be able to read and write? Or be food for you or other humans? What defines respect? What criteria do we set to make choices about whether we act respectfully to another species or a river or ocean? Must there be a direct payoff to us for us to cultivate appreciation or respect?

Perhaps we show respect to that which we value. Can we gauge the value humans place on our planet…wild places, wildlife…by the level of respect exhibited?

If there is a direct relationship between value and respect there is much work to be done…within us all. Let it begin now.

Letting Go

Letting Go

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I realized today that I have been attached to people ‘getting’ the seriousness of the situation at the Gulf. Of understanding that all is NOT well there and the seafood is tainted with oil. I have invested a lot of energy into hoping…praying…that there would be an awakening that would positively affect not only the Gulf Coast, but the entire planet. The more I see attention-deficit mainstream media move on to other adreneline-pumping stories and leave the hard road of environmental and economic recovery of this area behind, the more stressed I become. Why? Because I have been attached to an outcome.

In my attachment, and the resulting anger that collectively people are just not getting it, I was missing the real reason for my monthly visits to the Gulf Coast–to minister to the wildlife and environment by telling the story. When I had that ‘ah-ha’ moment today, it felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders and I relaxed and refocused my attention–my INTENTION.

I let go today. I cannot force anyone to listen, pay attention, stop eating contaminated seafood, stop swimming in contaminated water or to slow down and really observe what is happening on the beaches, under the water, to the plants. By letting go I have more energy to devote to what I feel called to do: Document what I see, hear, smell, taste and feel when I am at the Gulf Coast. By telling the story, those willing to listen will have honest, truthful information.

Before the oil came ashore in Alabama, I made a promise to this Ghost Crab. After warning it to leave the beach and head for safer territory in the dunes, it helped me see that its loss of life could be a teaching–that all lives lost due to this disaster could be a teaching, a reminder, that our greed and misuse of resources is out of control. So in memory of this little teacher, I recommit to telling the story and let go of things and people I have no control over. Feels like a good step.

Diamonds in the Web

Diamonds in the Web

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I sit here in the shade of pine trees at Gator Lake and allow the breeze to cool me after the long hike through the refuge on the sandy trail. I hear the Gulf roaring across the lake as the drone of insects sounds in the surrounding marsh. Haze from salt spray, laden with particles of oil, blurs the tree line and I realize that even here, a half mile from the breaking waves, I am breathing air that carries molecules of benzene, hydrogen sulfide, toluene, xylene, and who knows what else from MC252 oil well.

What will be the long term effect on the marshes, the beaches, and ecosystems? What will be the consequences we cannot see from here but are lurking in the future? What happens to all of the workers who spent twelve hour days in 100 degree heat breathing contaminated air at its worst?

There are so many strands in the web of life, in these fragile ecosystems along the Gulf Coast. So many intricate aspects to such a rich gathering of life force in the Gulf, saltwater marshes, and inland habitats. If only one part of the living system was injured, the stronger parts could support it and nurture it back to health. Unfortunately, every part of this precious place is affected and the confounding thing is we simply have no idea how badly it is injured. Not yet anyway.

Take, for instance, the oil-soaked sea oats. Will the seeds grow after being coated in oil? The primary dune line, where the sea oats grow, is the first defense against storms. If sea oats do not reproduce due to the oily mist saturating them, what will become of the dune line? Not this year, but 3 years from now.

And what about the coquina shells that have been long-gone from many beaches since the spill? They are beginning to come back in some areas but what is the long-term effect of oil on their genetics? Will they be able to reproduce when constantly exposed to toxins found in crude oil? (And yes, the oil is still washing up, it’s still in the Gulf…weathered but present). We don’t know, do we?

There is suspicion that blue fin tuna’s reproduction may not have happened this summer due to the spill. The Gulf is where they migrate to breed. They were already in decline. What happens to them now? So many unanswered questions. So many unknowns. So maddening, this waiting. This prayerful waiting.

I sit here feeling the breeze kiss my sweaty face with all of these questions rumbling through my mind. What will this place look like five years from now? Will nature recover from this inundation of toxins? What species will survive and which ones won’t? I ask again, What will it take for humans to wake up, to remember our intimate connection to nature? To remember that what we do to nature ultimately determines our fate, especially the fate of our grandchildren. Will we, as a species, ever put aside our selfishness and grow into responsible adults?

My grief runs deep but it is not rooted on just the oil spill or the mining disasters all over the world or other human-generated catastrophies and assaults to the planet. The seed of my grief is the apathy and ignorance of one species–and I am a member of it.

Each of us is a diamond in the web of life. Each crab, every stingray, sea turtle, fish, bird, and plant are jewels in this sacred web. When one strand breaks, many suffer. We are diamonds in the web, let us shine with the light of awakening consciousness!

The Moon–Another Resource to be Exploited?

The Moon–Another Resource to be Exploited?

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I saw a report on the news that NASA’s launch and intentional crash of two scientific, data-gathering rockets has yielded a surprise. The moon has large amount of frozen water in some of those lovely craters. The first thing they start thinking is this: We could harvest that water. Because of the high concentration of hydrogen sulfide it could be an amazing source of fuel…specifically, rocket fuel.

Have we not raped and pillaged our own planet enough? We have to spread the viral conquer-and-deplete practice to objects in outer space now? I sat in disbelief that given the recent events of environmental disasters–Gulf Oil Spill, Toxic Waste flooding a town in Hungary, Chile mining disaster, Ecuador mining disaster, China mining disaster to name a few of recent months–we have not changed the way we, as a collective, think.

What will it take for us to learn that we can appreciate and be grateful for resources without exploiting them, without even taking action to harvest anything? What will it take?