Are you Superwoman or Superman?
Life can be so fragile and fleeting. Yet I think most of us feel we are Supermen or Superwomen. We go around with an invincible feeling and tell ourselves nothing can harm us or stand in our way. But then something happens like the death of a beloved pet or friend or parent. And we realize we cannot control or fix everything. And we realize that circumstances are not always the way we want them to be. Eventually, we come face to face with sadness and some pain in our heart.
I have found the best remedy for sadness is a walk in a forest or on the beach. I like to listen to the sway of the tree leaves and the roar of ocean waves. For me, nature is a tonic. It soothes me when I am nervous and brings me to the point where I can be my best self in difficult situations. Instead of making a poor decision out of frustration I can make a better decision from a place of center and calm.
We really do need to take very good care of our planet. It nurtures us yet we often take it for granted or do not notice it. The Earth and nature are always “there” for us. We live on a beautiful planet with magnificent oceans, rivers, and trees, and a stunning variety of tigers, lions and bears. And it is amazing that we can plant seeds in the soil and reap fruits, vegetables and all sorts of food.
I urge you to do your part; teach your children to garden and protect wild places and the animals in them. Nature nurtures us, now it is time for us nurture nature.
Some good news
1. The California Assembly passed a bill to have the state’s public employee pension systems divest from coal.
2. Enough solar reaches the Earth every hour to power the needs of the entire world for a full year.
3. The solar industry is creating jobs 20x faster than the overall US economy.
4. California was the first state to ban throw-away plastic bags.
5. Denver, Colorado has a tool library so you can borrow tools instead of buying them.
6. The Humpback whale population is on the rise and may even be removed from the endangered species list.
7. A 21-year-old, Boyan Slat, has a great plan to clean plastics from the oceans, and was crowned “Champion of the Earth”, the United Nations’ highest accolade.
8. Hawaii is going to 100% renewable energy.
9. 7 out of 10 Americans want their states to comply with the EPA’s Climate Plan.
10. General Mills is among many companies taking climate change seriously.
Your chance, will you take it?
For the past week I have had the honor, and I mean honor, to take care of a little black and gray tabby cat named Lexi. As you can see from her photo, she has pretty green eyes and a sweet look. Lexi does not belong to me and yet even after a few days I found I was growing quite attached to her. She follows me all around the house and even goes up and down the stairs multiple times as I do various chores. One thing I love is the pitter patter of her paws on the steps. Lexi knows when I am tired and it is time to go to bed, or when I am a bit grumpy and could use some cheering up. It is like I have a new best friend.
I had hesitated to take Lexi to my home when I first met her because she was sick with diarrhea and her fur felt almost greasy. But after noticing her protruding ribs and sad eyes, a part of me knew she needed more than a just a drop-in feeding and medicine dosage while her owners were on vacation. So I got permission to bring Lexi to my house. Some attention and a friendly voice seem to be working their magic on this precious animal. The diarrhea is going away, she has put on some weight, and her fur feels like it should. I don’t think I am imagining it, her eyes also seem brighter and happier.
When Lexi’s owner comes to pick her up I am sure it will be a bittersweet moment for me. I know I will miss this little cat which unexpectedly came into my world. And I realize that life often provides us with so many chances to widen our circles. Here was my chance. What is yours? I could have not brought Lexi into my home, but by doing so I feel so much richer. She probably gave me much more than I feel I gave her, and she truly touched my heart.
The beach report –what did you find?
I had the chance to spend some time in Canada recently and am always amazed by its beauty and the friendliness of its inhabitants. I was also impressed by the lack of population density. It felt like there was room to breathe and open space all around me. In fact, Canada has 27.5% more wooded and forested land than the United States. And it has a lot more land per head.
One of my favorite things to do in Canada is watch the seals. They swim north in the summer months, fatten up on fish, and get ready for the winter months yet to come. Yet, I was saddened by all of the garbage that had washed up on the shores. I spent a lot of time picking up Pepsi soda cans, plastic water bottles, Clorox bleach bottles, plastic fishing rope, rubber bands, plastic garbage bags, candy wrappers and huge plastic fishing bins. I found garbage all over beautiful beaches which are normally free of litter. I found garbage in places that I adore. I picked up crates full of garbage, hauled them off the beach, and disposed of the items in trash cans. I even reported my findings to the appropriate authorities. And I suggested community groups be organized to do volunteer beach clean-ups.
I thought about a lot of things in Canada. My grandparents did not live with all of the plastic that we do. They had glass containers and maybe a few paper cartons. They never bought water in plastic bottles. They lived in a different time but they knew how to conserve and recycle. It is time for us to be more like our grandparents. Can you imagine swimming in an ocean filled with plastic? That is what we oblige the seals and dolphins to do. It is time to stop using so much plastic. Write me and tell me about your beach finds.
We can change –cool video
Be a Hero – Clear the Animal Shelters
Be a Hero – find a cat or a dog a loving home and help “Clear the Animal Shelters” on Saturday, August 15th. Many shelters are reducing or waiving their adoption fees that day.
What are critically endangered animals telling us about our future?
The unnecessary and illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe has brought a lot of media attention to the welfare of animals. I am deeply saddened by Cecil’s death but am grateful for heightened awareness among the public and the positive actions many are taking on behalf of animals worldwide. Airlines such as Delta, United, and American have all banned the transport of big-game trophies on their flights. They said they will not transport the remains of lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards or buffalo.
We desperately need to protect our animals. We are now in the middle of one of the greatest mass extinctions of plants and animals since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Plus, scientists estimate we are losing dozens of species every day. They calculate 30-50% of all species could be extinct by 2050.
Do you know which animals are on the critically endangered species list? Quiz yourself. Here are some of the answers: the Sumatran Rhino, the Leatherback Turtle, the Mountain Gorilla, the Vaquita, the Yangtze Finless Porpoise, the Sumatran Tiger, the Sumatran Elephant, the Amur Leopard, and the Pangolin.
When we lose species it is like losing pieces of a puzzle which fit together and make up a big picture. If you lose one piece small changes lead to big problems which are not easy to solve. Plants, animals, and humans all depend on one another and are part of a giant ecosystem. Losing one piece, even if it is small, unravels our sustainability, and that affects every single one of us. One thing we can all do is protect animal and plant habitats. Our very future and well-being depend on it.
What They Are Not Telling You
I started watching a very insightful film, “Cowspiracy”, the other day and it really made an impression on me. As an environmentalist, I know a lot about climate change and its causes, and I know a lot about the solutions. Yet I was taken aback by the things I did not know. Did you ever have that happen to you? You might have re-read a book you had read long ago, or you meet someone new and you realize there were nuances you had not picked up.
We all know, the climate is changing and our global environment is suffering. And many people can tell you climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels which add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. But what many leaders and organizations are not telling you is that animal agriculture is the number one cause of environmental destruction and devastation. Raising cattle produces more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. In numbers, livestock and their byproducts produce 51% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and transportation produces only 13%. So, what we really need to talk about is diet.
A meat-eater needs 18 times more land than a vegan does in order to eat for one year. Plus, animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of the destruction of the Amazon forest. Did I mention the following fact? The waste from 2500 dairy cows equals the entire waste from a city of 411,000 people. So, you can help save the Amazon and our rainforests simply but changing how you eat. Instead of a hamburger eat a veggie-burger. Instead of whole milk try soy milk. It may seem hard at first but once you get the hang of it you will feel better, and make a positive difference for the planet.
Leadership
Over the weekend I was quietly sitting on the beach and had the good fortune to see a parade of geese walk in front of me. It was amazing. I had never before seen anything like it in my life. I always thought geese stayed near ponds and did not hang out by the ocean. As you can see from the video, there they were, magically walking across the sand. As I watched them I figured out they were on their way towards a marsh-like area of the park. I felt so grateful they were not scared of me, or any other beach goers for that matter, and there was a place for them to go to in the evening.
That experience at the beach was a stark contrast to the one I had at an outdoor art festival where I saw a very sad and disturbing sight. Just so you get a feel for the situation, the temperature was 94 degrees and it was burning hot. A popular weather site said it felt like 108 degrees. As I was wiping sweat from my forehead, I turned my eye and saw a woman walking her very small dog on the black pavement. The dog was whimpering, panting, had her tongue hanging out, and was pulling on her leash. As the dog owner walked past me the dog tried to get closer to where I stood on a small patch of green grass. Obviously, the dog needed water and probably had burned the pads on her paws. I tried to speak with the woman but she said the dog was fine and did not need anything. Everyone standing within a few yards of me was concerned for the dog.
It is so important for us to show concern for others and to appreciate the gifts nature bestows upon us. Animals are so very precious and we need to respect and care for them. How many times in our lives do we stop caring for others? How often are animals harmed? How many times do we see someone throw trash out of the car window or waste precious resources? We can all stand up and be leaders. We can make the world a better place.