Rivers and Rocks: Marjory Stoneman Douglas

    

 I did not know Everglades could be roughly translated to "Shining Grass" or their Indian name "Grassy Waters." Saw grass or sedge is one of the oldest botanical in the world. "Hatchee" means river and "slough" means open swampy places. I guess I knew slough.
    Its scary to think of South Florida as an island. But if global warming keeps up Lehigh will be the new Fort Myers Beach.
   Lake Okeechobee is 21 feet above sea level. The Everglades dips at a rate of a half foot for every 6 miles.
    The Everglades Keys became famous because this is where White settlers believed the Indians retreated to caves when a hurricane was brewing. They would be given warning of the impending storm by the blossoming of the saw grass.

Service Learning Reflection

Pasco Band of Creek Indians instructed by Dr. Margaret Bogan

On Saturday November 12^th I attended a service learning opportunity put on by Dr. Margaret Bogan, an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and a member of the Pasco Band of Creek Indian’s Turtle clan. She spoke about traditional medicinal use of indigenous plants, the culture and history of her clan, as well as the implications of sustainability in the modern world. Dr. Bogan addressed that she is moved by the spirits in how she speaks and presents and that often results in a bit of all over the place, random, scattered thoughts, which is reflected in my paper as well.

Dr. Bogan asked us about what we have been taught to equate the chief of a tribe to. I thought of a chief sort of as a mayor. A well respected individual elected to represent a group of their constituents. Dr. Bogan explained to us that a chief is a servant of the people. Although they are usually a tribal elder, they are “the bottom of the totem pole.” They can be voted out if their work does not please the people.

The location of our meeting had to be moved from on the reservation in Brooksville, FL to on campus at FGCU due to the passing of a tribal member. Dr. Bogan explained to us that in Creek culture you can’t speak the name of the departed for a certain period of time after they have passed. Otherwise, their spirit which may still be in transit can hear you and perhaps become turned around and return to earth. The period is often four days as four is a sacred number for her people but the family of the departed my set the amount of time that you cannot say their name. This time could be days, weeks, months, or even years.

You do not ever touch a stray owl feather. Owls are said to guide your spirit into the afterlife whether you have been good or bad, they will lead you to the correct place. If the owl should happen to drop a feather while leading a bad person, that feather will forever be tainted with bad spirits.

Dr. Bogan told us that at the center of their church is fire. It is believed that the smoke from the fire carries the prayers up to the creator. When a fire is finished it must be buried so all the thoughts that went along with the fire may be ended also.

Band of Creek Indians are not federally recognized. They are one of twenty five tribes that have state recognition. They do not receive any federal funding. They do not conduct private schools but rather all children attend public schools. They are a cultural group of people and you need not be a blood descendant to gain membership but rather of association or assimilation.

There are technical differences between what constitutes a clan and what constitutes a tribe. I tribe is bigger than a clan. Their tribe has eight clans which included bear, beaver, panther, snake, and the turtle clan to which she belongs. If you are blood relation then you are said to belong to the clan named animal.

Creek people are different than any other tribe in that when they dance around a fire they move in a counterclockwise direction whereas all other North American tribes move clockwise.

Dr. Bogan told us a story of traditional lore of the “Stigini.” A Stigini is a small, mythical creature who could be equated somewhat similarly to a leprechaun.

In the Creek culture there are no formal teachings. All craft, skills, and lore are taught by invitation when the educator believes you to be ready. You are not to ask to be taught. Although even if you do, your request can be turned down. This can cause frustrations for children when they enter public school as in their Creek culture they have been raised not to ask questions. There are also many things in Creek culture that are taught gender specifically. Males and females do not learn the same things. 

“He-sa-keeta-ma-see” is their Creator, “the giver of breath,” he who allows humans to have relationships with plants, animals, and everything else he placed on this earth. In the opening ceremony of tribal dances, for example, you thank the crow for lightening your heart then you thank God for giving you the crow. During the ceremonies, where the prayers are lifted to the Creator through the smoke, the problems amongst people get buried with the ashes and then can never be brought up again.

All Native American tribes are warrior societies. They have nothing to do with peace. Of the 100 men in the Band of Creek Turtle Clan: 30 of them have earned Purple Hearts, 10 Silver Stars, 2 Air Force Medals, and 10-15 Bronze Stars. This shows that even in modern times much of their ancient warrior ways are preserved and that they are very successful in times of war.

We also learned about the hierarchy with in the clans and tribes. Each tribe is led by a Micco. Even today, a Micco will go hungry in order to feed his tribe. They are his priority, he eats last. In general there is a whole different approach to crime and how it is viewed. They are an “eye for an eye” society. In their culture, murder is not the biggest crime, stealing is. This is because if you steal from someone they may not be able to feed their family and that is viewed as being worse than quickly taking one’s life. The highest tier is the Micanopy- the chief of chiefs. The most resent Micanopy was appointed by Harry Truman when the federal government appointed chiefs. His name was Micanopy Sam Blue. He was also a deputy in the local Sherriff’s department. He was chosen for his knowledge of tradition and his ability to bring people together. He passed away several years ago and the tribes are currently in a four year waiting process before they choose a new Micanopy. Today, Micanopy are elected. Which Dr. Bogan said can sometimes leads to competing rivals resulting in fist fights over gaining control of the position!

The Micco who taught and mentored Dr. Bogan was Micco Randy King. He was called “Mahyla,” which means male teacher. The current Micco is Dean Strus. He is Seneca Indian by birth and was raised in Pennsylvania. He too, is the recipient of the Purple Heart award. Dr. Bogan referred to him being “armed to the teeth,” a man you would not want to cross, who is very protective of his people. Unfortunately, he is currently battling cancer and a number of other health ailments.

The ancestors of the Creek people are originally from South and Central America. They are traditionally mound builders. Those who are referred to as “Red Sticks” are from warrior tribes. Those who are “White Sticks” handle more legal and business issues.

 Dr. Bogan reminded us how special we are to be able to attend today as not a lot of elders would approve of letting non Creek people hear the stores we are being told. I agreed that this event was a rare opportunity and one that I am thankful and fortunate to be a part of.

Birds and more specifically, feathers seem to hold a large cultural significance.  An egret feather may only be worn in a hat by males and must be given to you. The folklore is that the Creator asked a boy to go to earth and choose which animal was to be his father and protect him. All of the animals got dressed up in anticipation; the raccoon painted his eyes, the cardinal dipped himself in red, all hoping to win the boys affections. The egret, however was the only animal to just continue going about his business, fishing. When the boy returned he said that he had selected the egret as his father because he was a good provider who was focused on bringing food to his family. Wearing an egret feather symbolizes caring for the tribe. Likewise, for every medicine you learn you are allowed to pin another owl feather upon your hat.

Buzzards are also well respected. They are able to take death and make it into life by eating carcasses and converting it into food for themselves. Likewise, their feathers contain a liquid that when pushed through a wound seals it up.

Seeing as there is gender diversity in what is taught, the women’s medicine is basic. It includes caring for headaches, flus, and broken arms. Ceremonial medicine is reserved for Micos. Spiritual medicine is learned only by males.

In traditional times, Plains Indians did a Sun dance. They affixed buffalo skulls to the skin of their chests by lancing the tissue and then dancing till the weight of the skull caused the skin to break. This could take up to two weeks. The Creek people practice what is called the “Switch Cut.” In this experience the strongest young man of a tribe is selected to represent his trive. He is taken into the “round house,” which is a political building. He is given ceremonial medicine and a gauntlet course is set for him to run. All of the tribes members are given switches which to lash his back and legs with as he passes by running the gauntlet. By the end of the first and second day he is welted. By the end of the seventh and eighth day he has open, oozing, bleeding wounds. This practice helps to build the community and bring them together. It also helps the young men to be appreciative. There are usually about eight young men selected and they are switched by about 300 tribes’ members. The plant that is used is from South America and due to exporting concerns it can no longer be moved and the tradition is longer practiced.

Dr. Bogan then moved to medicinal use of plants which I found to be very interesting. In “hot weather” medicine, there are two ingredients:  HVSEYVHAGE, the sunflower plant, said to follow the sun, which provides potassium and RHUS COPALILNO, a winged sumac whose berries add a light lemon flavor.

“E’co Ale’dgat” which means “Deer the causer”  is the story of how modern aspirin came to be discovered. When deer’s antlers begin to grow it caused the deer much pain as the antlers try to break the skins surface, much like cutting teeth. The deer, in an effort to aid the skin breaking will scratch and bang its head against trees and rocks. The Indians, observed this and realized the deer must have headaches. The next thing the deer did would be to go eat the roots of the “micco hoyvecv,” or red willow tree. This very sacred plant is the main ingredient in aspirin and was derived by the Indians watching deer cure their headaches! You may have noticed the word micco in front; this is because it takes the special expertise of a micco to gather this plant. It must be “passed by the eyes of a micco.” It looks dangerously similar to water hemlock which is deadly. One error could end up killing a whole village. SAYLIC ALBONX, or Carolina Willow, or really any willow except Eastern Willow will work. Bark and leaves contain it too, but it is most concentrated in the roots. Salocin is the ingredient used in aspirin today. You can make tea, smoke it or eat it to have its medicinal benefits.

Nokusi Ale’dja is “bear the causer.” The plant KVCO HVERV YVLUNKV has berries that can loosen up the gut, for a bear that has just awakened from a winter’s worth of slumber or the roots can cause constipation for a bear about to begin constipation. The plant known to us as blackberry root is the ingredient used in Immodium.

Eyelix vomitorium, or holly, has tiny crenulated leaves on long, drooping, evergreen plants with little berries. This plant is often used in landscaping. If you toast the leaves a chemical reaction occurs and you can brew the tea. In Creek this is called “white drink” and will a lot you three to four minutes before you vomit. The active ingredient is caffeine and is used to kill intestinal worms.

Myriea, the plant which makes bay berry scent has bark which is used for potassium regulation, an antibiotic, and fever medicine.

Wahoo, a winged elm has inner bark that can be cut into strips and when dried will make a cast.

Green briar, or rotunda pholeeum root makes pectin that tastes like sasparilla.

Fox grape has been known as nature’s Rogain and in the spring has leaves that can be eaten as a salad.

Young pine needles can be used to make tea and the inner bark can be used as a thickening agent.

Beauty berry which is only edible when grown in rich, shaded soil is otherwise astringent and seedy.

Serenoa repens or saw palmetto aids in prostate health.

Queen’s delight is known as wedding night medicine and is linked to increased virility.

Passion flower, the purple and white version is a common ingredient in sleepy time teas.

Asclepias humistrata or milkweed is used in clotting small wounds. Also when you break a leaf it has antiseptic properties.

Weso sassafrass root makes rootbeer.

St. Johns Wart is sold in stores to treat depression.

There is a white flowering plant called “tread softly.” The flower causes a stinging sensation yet the root can cure it. This is another unique example of a plant that has both. I found this to be odd and interesting and had never heard of any such occurrences, like the tread softly and the blackberry plant, up to this point.

Turkey oak tannic started anti-cancer research. Golden rod helps kidney stone. Yucca foleum helps cure snake bites. Persea, a hot medicine, is for female problems, it is more commonly known as red bay. A hot medicine is a medicine where if done improperly can have fatal results.

Most ceremonial drinks have a purpose for your body.

There is a story which has showed up in Seminole, Miscaogee, and Creek cultures. It is of a big brother and a little brother who after an unsuccessful day fishing on the river spot a fish asking to be eaten. The big brother kills, cooks, and eats the fish but the little brother is suspicious and does not eat the fish. After eating it the big brother turns into a ravenous snake whose hunger cannot be satiated.  Upon returning to the village he eats the whole winter’s worth of rations. Sadly, the village has to turn him away because there simply is not more food to feed him. As the enormous snake slithers his way from his village he consumes all plants and animals in his path. This void is recognized today as the Kissimmee River. The lesson is that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Fish don’t often ask to be eaten. What is weird is that the story has transpired in several tribes that throughout history and even today have been considered more enemies than friends.

Living is so hard, people go with out at certain time of the year there is a great sharing in which many give away most/ all of what they have and in return receive nearly as much as they have given away.

The musical shakers that were once made from turtle shells as the only man in the county who knew the skill has passed away. That element of their culture has ended. 

Noise pollution and a child determine outcome for world's greatest ecosystem

     

     The Endgame article by Micheal Grunwald is a sad reminder of the influences in political decisions. I wish people were able to draw conclusions about building the airport in the Everglades without reflecting on the officials because of their actions in the Elian Gonzales fiasco. Yes, I can see the correlation that can be drawn  to how bad actions on the American government will give a bad image to all involved and sometimes when you vote their isn't a specific breakdown they way we would like to see it be, however; penalizing a senator over the actions of the Elian Gonzales case by going against his decision to protect the Everglades is illogical. It is also sad that a key issue in protecting the Everglades comes down to the noise pollution that would be traveling over Ocean Reef, a wealthy community in the Keys MORE than the ecological sustainability of the Everglades themselves! This is but one example of how our government was arranged where money talks and  a lot of crap walks. If you want to be heard or have something done your way, all that matters is money. It doesn't matter if its right or wrong or morally unethical. Just so long as those with money aren't inconvenienced.
    What I learned reading this article was all that was at bat in the Gore v. Bush race of the 2000 Presidential Election. This was my first time voting and I had voted for Nader. Retrospectively, I wish I would have voted for Gore. As any reasonable person with an IQ of over 55 or an income of under a million should have voted for Gore. I do consider Gore a stronghold for the environment and that he has used his power in a way a to convey the message that the time for action is now. Bush, a for letter word, is perhaps the anti-Christ incarnate.
   Interesting: Only a true friend will tell you what you don't want to hear: and that is that you will loose the election because of Homestead.
   I had also attended a Ralph Nader rally and participated in the shaking hands and kissing babies act. He is a phenomonal speaker with a lot of ideas that I think would really appeal to the younger generations, should they choose to listen.
    Even though the end of the article boasts it being a big success for the Everglades as well as ecosystems everywhere, I am not so sure. The politics into the politics is saddening if not sickening. The money talks aspect will never die. And that's the bottom dollar.

Extra Credit Blog: Corkscrew Swamp

Despite being poured on, I really enjoyed the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Preserve tour. My mother and I had tried unsuccessfully to locate it once several years ago and after several hours of driving around were forced to return home. It is so beautiful to get to be outside and away for the "created-ness" of the city. We spotted deer, a baby alligator, turtles, and several species of bird. Considering I am not from Florida, I consider myself relatively lacking knowledge of the indigenous plants and animals here versus my native home of Wisconsin where I can name almost every plant and animal species. Which is why I was so surprised that I was one of the only students to answer questions of "what is this?" and "does anyone know?" I figure it was probably that most of the students knew and just didn't care to answer. Maybe some didn't know at all. Either way, I expect people should be more aware of their surroundings than what the class was expressing. Maybe its just that I am a little bit older than most of the students and that I am not concerned with looking cool by not answering the questions. What a silly premise anyway.
   I was interested to learn about the birds that were at one point nearly extinct due to over hunting to gather their plumes to make fancy hats. A sad example of both how people are willing to make any sacrifices to be fashionable and also how many years ago we lacked the insight to see we impact populations. I don't think today we would go out and blast and entire population of anything, whether endangered or not. It's just not in good taste.
   I have read several books about the Everglades and Florida swamps, mostly when I first moved to Florida in lived in Naples in the estates WAYYYY out in the woods. Actually sharing a border with whatever the wildlife preserve is out there. We had a bear in our garage once! Anyway, I have read several books mostly focused on Florida lore, ghost tales, and old Native American stories. Very interesting good reads. One book entitled "The Ghost Orchid Ghost" was written by a local author and focused on the Everglades. There is a rare flower called the ghost orchid that is so elusive it is considered like a ghost. I BELIEVE that I saw one when we were on the field trip! I felt a rather uneasy, creepy feeling. Like I had seen a ghost!
    I feel even today the swamps have an unknown enchantment that they still may hold many secrets that have not yet been exploited. Something pretty rare in this day. When I ever I am on a board walk my mind always wanders to early settlers who packed through the swamps to try to find land that they could make claim on. Walking through the thick swamp with knee deep water, trees everywhere, what seems like thousands of snakes and alligators and other things that just want to kill you, I am not envious of them. Let alone the workers who installed the boardwalks!
     So for the most part, I remain a land dweller. As much as I love the beach and even take a canoe through the estuaries a few times a year, I am not envious of the swamp life. Yet, there is an importance and a need to preserve what is left of an ever decreasing swampland. The mystery and intrigue of the swamp will hopefully be there for generations. Due impart to conservation efforts like the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Extra Credit Blog: ECHO

      


 I attended a field trip at ECHO in North Fort Myers on Friday, September 2, 2011. I had not previously been but had driven by and read the sign and been intrigued. I enjoyed the tour especially about the water filtration systems and the fire starters.
       The amount of clean water that could be derived by one of those small, uncomplicated purification systems amazed me. Why can't we get these to the people who need them? If I remember, one involved a 5 gallon bucket with some hoses running out of it and a lid. The entire set up cost around $50 and I believe could clean up to 40 gallons of water per day. Personally, I am a bit of an apocalypse phobic and believe in that being prepared to self sustain in any circumstances in never a waste of time or money. I have enough wood to board up all my windows (including removing internal doors), I try to grow my own vegetables, I keep a large supply of flashlights, batteries, duct tapes, face masks, plastic gloves, and ammunition; all just in case but hoping that I will never need them. Having a water purification system could prove vital in any instance from hurricanes to plagues and zombies. I have marveled at the twist on bottle toppers that you can buy for around $10 now that go on top of any water bottle. I know that if there is ever to be a disaster that you are to fill you bath tub and any other large container with water to hold as much as possible should your supply be rendered undrinkable.
    One of the other ideas that amused me were the made firewood blocks. I don't remember specifically what they were called. But I do remember thinking how much I take for granted that I can turn on my stove or just pop food into my microwave, drive thru, carry out, or sit down in a restaurant while else where there are people who spend the majority of their day walking just trying to find enough sticks to cook their meal. THAT SUCKS. What a simple innovation those little used paper cooking blocks are. Saves a lot of effort. Even though I would imagine that they are inexpensive to make, I bet there isn't a million companies jumping at the offer to ship used paper to a distant place where the can't pay you. I wonder how much of those actually reach the people who need them and what makes it possible for them to be shipped so far.
     I also enjoyed learning about how they experiment with growing vegetables. Anyone who has ever tried to grow anything can tell you that it takes a certain green thumb, or perhaps more accurately some trial and error. I am currently slowly killing several plants at once.
     Another thing that I found amusing was how several people in the class were amazed at the urban gardens, where they were growing plants in things like plastic bags and old tires. It was like the idea had never occurred to any of the to use anything but brand new color coordinating pots fresh from the store! Ha!
    Its crazy to think that ECHO trying new techniques here can possibly help a rice farmer in the Philippines, or an African farmer working on re-greening and local biodiversity.
 I also enjoyed getting to eat some of the various plants that were being grown there. I felt a connection to the most prehistoric people who had made the discoveries.
     I bought 4 organic herbs that day. Three are currently living. My rosemary bit the dust. If I can go so far to speculate, I would say the soil that I have the plant in is overly loamy and that the plant was receiving too much water.
     If it were not for such a drive and if the labor wasn't so physically demanding outside I would consider doing my service learning hours there. Oh, and the tour guy, the doctor, seemed very intelligent and "zen."

The Butterfly Effect: Reflection 8

The National Geographic Strange Planet "One Degree" video covers how global warming, elevated C02 levels, and raising the earth's temperature just one degree has dramatic changes. Items covered include Porcupine Caribou, zoaplankton, crabs from California's tide pools, and Asthma in the Children on Trinidad.
The video starts out about the plight of the porcupine caribou. It said that cold regions such as Alaska, Canada, and the Arctic have been experiencing warming up up tp 11 degrees. Since 1987, the population level of the porcupine caribou has dropped by nearly 60,000 and that they are slow to recover and fast to crash. Part of the problem is that caribou are ignoring grassy plains and climbing steep bluffs with limited amounts of food. The reason being that they are trying to avoid being mosquito food. Additionally, the warmer temperatures in winter brings more precipitation. That can make hard crusts on the snow that makes grazing difficult. Also, the more snow that there is the more they have to dig to get their food. In recent years, twice in the spring there has been severe blizzards which prevent the caribou from beginning their migration and because of that calves are being born in transit making it difficult for them to survive. There are many types of indigenous people who rely on the caribou as they have for centuries and would be wiped off the planet if they were not allowed to continue in their ways.
Edward Norton said that the planet is likely to warm 3-10x more in the next century than it has in the past century. Might as well buy some land in Canada now. Its about to be the next LA.
The next person studied zoaplankton. They are tiny organisms who live in the ocean and are the basis for the bottom of the food chain. They migrate to the surface to feed at night and then back down in the day time. This journey is equivalent to 250 miles for a human. (I get mad walking to the Union). In the last 50 years only about 20% of the zoaplankton once present can be found in the oceans. Their crash and recovery seems to be linked to the warm and cold cycles of water or "regime shifts" in the Pacific. They zoaplankton do best in cold and worse in warm. I want to go to the Pacific.
The next study was on the effects of warming waters on crabs found on the California coastline. Many species have been migrating north to stay in the cooler water and can no longer be found where they were once located. Several crabs were hooked to heart monitor machines and put in water with rising temperatures. At 2 degrees warmer than the water that they had been living in all the crabs heartbeats stopped. They all died. In just 2 degrees. One I feel bad for the crabs, I love anything with eyeballs up on stakes like that. I guess you must sometimes sacrifice a few in hopes that something can be done to help the others. Two, 2 degrees doesn't seem like a very big difference. Despite the announcer saying that the crabs were very hardy, people don't die in up to a 30 degree temperature difference. Lets say 60-90 degrees, Might be hot or cold but it isn't going to kill you. However I don't think that crabs regulate their body temperature so maybe that is a big factor. Reminds me of two scenarios. A frog in water brought to a boil won't jump out because the change is gradual but a frog put into hot water will sense the heat. Second, when you get a fish you always have to float the bag so the water that the fish is in can adjust to the water of the new tank.
In Trinidad more and more children are being diagnosed with asthma, sea pain, or aspergilis. Aspergelis is a pathogen found in sands of the Sahara. Global warming has contributed to the drying up of Lake Chad that is now only 1/20th of its former area. This is because the North Atlantic Oscillation which has high and low wind pressures has been forced into an intense phase for the last 20-30 years. Some smart guy plugged this into a computer that reads weather cycles and determined the only thing that would make the cycle get stuck is the elevated levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Multiplying that is the ever warming Indian Ocean which creates storms which sweep even more Saharan sand from Africa to the Carribbean.
This reminds me of the butterfly effect. Which is the theory that killing one butterfly can change the fate of the world. Doing something that seems so small can have an impact around the globe. One of the previous videos or text said that a breath exhaled today can be on the other side of the globe tomorrow. We are one globe. The spaces between us are a lot smaller than we first thought.

Apocalypto: Reflection 7

The current population growth is expanding so quickly I believe a possible multi-continent collapse is possible. There  is some breaking point to what the earth can produce. Being able to manage the earth's resources is key to pushing that breaking point as far into the future as possible. I don't want my fate to be reduced to a pile of rubble in time so far removed that the collapse of an empire isn't even remembered. As Mary Shelley would say "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair." Bummer.
The book says that ecocide has now come to over shadow nuclear war and disease. Although I worry about biological warfare and super flu's more frequently than most, and probably more than recommended (hey an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and my dream job is the CDC what do you expect from me?), it is the well being of the planet that I ponder every day and with almost every action. And for me it is hard to remain optimistic.  Not only is the changes and damages that humans afflicted been severe and scarring, now knowing what we do now know, how is this not a pressing issue on everyone's agenda? I don't know if people as a whole are too stupid, too lazy, or just don't think that it effects them that causes them to remain so detached and empathetic. Modern humans are hardly the last line of the last paragraph in the book of time and look at the damages we have done. Can man, the worlds most advanced and intelligent species, be the downfall of the planet? (my upstairs neighbor walks by a with a heaping trash bag as I realize I've never seen her with recycling. Thanks dumb $#@&% for further illustrating my point). And I lose my train of thought. Do people think that we now have to technology to fix the damage rather than prevent it? A shield to keep some of the sun out, a giant freezer to drop big blocks of ice into the poles again. Sounds like sci-fi. 
Just as these problems have happened day by day, the best way we can seek to counteract their catastrophic effects is to do it day by day. Recycle, be a smart consumer, live minimally, be and be politically active. 
If you have ever seen Apocalypto, a society who manages the natural resources well is threatened when a neighboring tribe needs blood for sacrifice to the sun gods. A few survivors make it thorough the tribulations and just when everything is about back to normal ships arrive. As we know, the Mayan's were wiped off the planet. If it's not one thing its another and just when you think you've covered your bases you may be surprised at what's about to happen next. 
The picture I selected for this entry is post apocalypse Tokyo. 

Those woods look scary: Reflection 6

My first thought while reading is "this must be old. No one has Walkman's anymore" we now live in the era of ipod, mp3s, and satellite radio. My second thought was those woods behind my house do look pretty scary. Not so much for fear of insects, snakes, or panthers but rather more of the homicidal bums that I highly suspect live in every unoccupied expanse murdering all those who venture in. While I also believe that free riders are parasitic in nature, I am surprised the author points out Woody Allen and I wonder if he was ever sued over it.
Being a fervent zombie or apocalypse phobe, I find several reasons in making myself marketable to the survivors as well as essential to my own survival. The more skills you possess: gardening, marksmanship, able to purify water, or store food the more likely it is that you will live. I hope my life is never in such dire circumstances but I see no loss in learning to be prepared. So I read up on things like this. Woody Allen would not be allowed in my post apocalyptic tribe unless he has further skills to offer.
My particular topophilia is not solid. I love both the city and the country. Six months in one and a long for the other. And visa versa. Which is a main component in why I have not bought a house. I don't know where is right for me. I love the diversity of the city and the serenity of the country. The propensity for martial law, plagues, or zombies is significantly less or at least slower reaching in the city and that brings me some sense of peace yet knowing my neighbors can't hear me scream, there's gunshots that raise no alarm, and with out street lights the night gets really dark does not comfort me.
I had never before heard the word anthropocentrism. I absolutely believe that animals feel the range of motions that people do. I also agree with animals propensity for joy. Ever meet a dog that has a bad day? every minute of their life is like the best minute of their life. People should take note in how to derive so much joy from the mundane.
Oooh learning so much. Definitely had never heard the meaning of the Greek terms eros, agape, and philia. But I am also not sure I have ever heard those terms before period. I see the human-nature relationship as a agape. We simply would not be here with out nature and nature does not need us to be here to sustain on its own. This is a one sided relationship.
Who do we have as modern biophils? The crocodile hunter? He died. Ummm... Captain Planet. He is fictional. Al Gore? I suppose he counts as a good one. Not many names come to mind though. I do like this author exponentially more than the previous but I disagree that the two barriers between us and the revolution are denial and imagination. Imagination I can accept as I can not "imagine" a way to end world hunger, or deforestation, etc. However the denial aspect, I feel there are very few people who are still living in denial that we have a problem and that something must be done. Perhaps this article is author a few years old. Pre-Al Gore. Haha.
Suprisingly for me or maybe not so much knowing myself much of what authors say of "we think this and we need that" is already clear to me. There is no way to fix the environment by throwing money at it. It will not take place in a single hour on a single day. It has always been clear to me that the steps are grass roots, individual, small, and unnoticeable making the right choices every day towards the benefit of something I can't see of feel is indeed an abstract concept.
Rootedness as the most important and least recognized need for the human soul. Interesting. For me, only time will tell as I have no solid roots. Maybe a few bushes at best (SWFL, Tomah WI-my hometown, Milwaukee- my favorite place minus all the cold).
I bet this guy listened to the Beatles a lot.
I chose that picture because I thought it illustrated the balance of humans, plants, and animals and how we need to tread lightly. Also, that we need to be looking at all of the flora and fauna in a new way.

Tread softly: Reflection 5

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. I think most people apply this logic to their daily interactions. However, when we pay less fortunate countries to allow us to dump or electronic waste there we are only looking out for our best interests.The amount of chemical laden waste that Americans need to dispose of every year is staggering. Every old computer, printer, and television has very dangerous chemicals in them. But they have to be dumped somewhere. If we left them here they would pollute our waters, raise our risk of certain cancers, and cause elevated fetal deaths.  So we basically pay less privileged countries to be allow ourselves to ravage their lands and give them cancer instead of us. This is an extreme example of unethical human relations but on a smaller scale, not recycling in your home has the same effect; the waste has to go somewhere. Out of sight out of mind is not the solution. When does an item no longer become your property? When it is placed in the trash? When it leaves your zip code? When it become recycled into something new? When it sits in landfill for hundreds of years? When is it no longer your property? I have never pondered this. Sadly, I am sure that somewhere the is the "Leah trash pile" even though I am an avid recycler, try to buy minimally packaged good, and look for ways to reuse or give more life to items, I do generate trash. I guess I would have to say that it is yours until it is recycled or for the duration that it sits in trash dumps. Are the chemical run off also then your property? I guess so. Not that anyone claims there trash that is in the dumps but if you used it in its life, it has no other owner.
I like the quote "the Golden Rule tries to integrate the individual to society, democracy to integrate social organization to the individual." Which is precisely why I seek to one day hold a political office, focusing on mayoral. The population is growing so fast and the world is pretty full of people already. As it continues to grow civilizations are going to become even closer to each other (physically/spatially) and soon there wont be a yours and mine. There will only be an ours. As the reading says "the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts."
The days of grandeur where man took what needed as vital to his survival and to manifest destiny is over. We belong to the land as much as it belongs to us. Only the soil and water can not protect itself we must be there for its best interests and to preserve it. Have you ever seen the moving "The Happening?" (SPOILED ALERT) Basically, all the trees get mad that so many of them are being destroyed and through communicating with each other they decide to release a pheromone or something airborne that makes people want to kill themselves. Hence, dead people don't harm trees. Unlikely scenario but with a strong message. How much can we push this planet until it starts pushing back? When I moved to Florida I marveled at how beautiful the landscaping was. Now I no longer see beauty I see artificiality. Its all fake, unhealthy looking. Same goes for flying over Florida. Looking down to see the endless canals, and fingerling lakes, and man made ponds, it really looks like at any time Florida could just sink into the ocean. How much of the landscape is the way nature intended it versus what we have created and engineered?
Think of the American Dust bowl. Mother nature being heartless and robbing the soil of moisture? No the Dust Bowl was caused by humans poor management of crop lands and soil erosion. For the most part we are lucky that we seemed to have learned our lesson in this specific scenario but there are many that are unfolding now as well as in the future that will get catastrophically worse before we learn and they get better.
"Obey the law, vote right, join some organizations, and practice what conservation is profitable in your land." Good motto. I firmly support all of those endeavors. Except for maybe some of the obey the law doctrines. But none of which are related to conservation or the environment. I follow all of those laws.
I am originally from (first 20 years of life) a farming community in southwestern Wisconsin and had never heard of the Soil Conservation District Laws. In a way I can understand the farmers only adapting the proposed changes that we profitable. This goes back to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and  being able to make enough money to provide for your family on a yearly basis is understandable but in  no way is acceptable for the consequences that mismanagement will bring in the future. It reminds me of a sand hour glass. The sand going through the glass is having to be able to make enough profit to provide for your family but not looking for future sustainability is like a making the hole gradually get bigger. The window of opportunity will only get smaller as time progresses.
The substitutes for land ethics sounds much like the children's rhyme "If that mockingbird don't sing." If something isn't working right for you go buy something else or a new one. How ever with soil management we can't go buy more soil or new soil. When does something become of value to where we can not afford to lose it? When is the threshold of having to do something begin?
On the land pyramid I had always heard that people were in the same categories as bears, large omnivores. Or even that bears were one above us as bears eat people and people do not eat bears. However I have never heard of people being categorized with raccoon and squirrels. First off, what kind of meat does a squirrel eat? Nuts? Is they surveyor counting nuts as meat because they are a protein. I don't think that counts. Maybe I need to become further educated and learn that squirrels love filet mignon. Do raccoons operate trawl line fishing boats and enjoys sashimi grade ahi like I do? Doubtful. But that would be really cool if they did.
Just as plankton is the essential first step in the food chain of the sea, healthy soil is the first step in the food chain for terrestrial beings. I have heard of using prairie grasses to detoxify once damaged lands. I know that ferns and river birch absorb soil contaminates faster than other like species. There has actually been some land recovery of places that had previously been condemned dumping grounds for waste have been brought back to life though carefully calculated land management.
Well said that the products of fertile soil maybe both qualitative and quantitatively superior. Simply, my vegetable garden in fairly sandy soil which lacks the fertile humus and pirth grows significantly less and also inferior size, color, and quality of vegetables. It is my responsibility to enrich this 20 x 30 foot plot yearly so my soil is enriched and my harvests more bountiful.
I have never heard anyone denounce land conservation as being futile. Indeed all ideas need a well rounded depth of comprehension to be appreciated but there has to be a jump off point for everything. Land conservation and land conservation activism are beneficial to the everyone who depends on the soil as well as the soil itself. The author says that our current problem is one of attitudes and implementation. But I don't see how you plan on changing some one's attitude until you educate them through conservation so they are behind the implementation of aspects. They form their own pyramid and are interdependent on each other.
The image is Aldo Leopold, the founder of ecology sitting on an "Aldo Leopold" Style bench writing a journal entry in 1946.

Not A Tasty Brew: The State of the Environment: Go Walk It Off: Reflection 4

Not A Tasty Brew: The State of the Environment: Go Walk It Off: Reflection 4: Have you ever been upset and someone tells you to go walk it off? Going for a walk can relax you and help clear you mind. I believe tha...

Go Walk It Off: Reflection 4

  

  Have you ever been upset and someone tells you to go walk it off? Going for a walk can relax you and help clear you mind. I believe that walking it off is a combination of passing time and, most likely, you're going to be in the calming outdoors. Nature definitely has a calming, soothing, centering effect on most people.
  I saddens me to learn that elementary schools have cut or have considered cutting physical education and recess. I remember looking forward to recess as a time to be able to exert some of the pent up energy you are forced to keep in while in classrooms. Furthermore, I believe recess teaches students things not fully expressed in the classroom that will be beneficial in adulthood like sharing, empathy, working in groups, and imagination. Likewise, gym class stressed the importance of working it teams, sportsmanship, and helps to combat the growing obesity epidemic. With recess teachers themselves get a short break and an opportunity to collect and refocus themselves allowing them to be more prepared educators. Overall, recess and physical education are beneficial to both teachers and students.
     I am not shocked to read that the use of stimulants went up 600% from 1990-1995. Ritalin, like many pharmaceuticals, is so overly prescribed. I know a ton of kids who love their Ritalin prescriptions not because it helps them to stay focused but because they can sell it to other college students for cash. Not only do they not take their prescriptions to treat their "illness" they are willing to illegally sell it to another student for the money! Pretty sure that's not the way that it was designed to work.
      The part about 90% of ADHD patients being boys annoys me. I can't think of any other psychological conditions that affects such a percentage of only a specific gender. Which leads me to believe that ADD and ADHD are made up. What do I think causes these diseases? Not disciplining your children. Remember the 1950s where if you didn't pay attention you got smacked with a ruler? Didn't seem to be an outbreak of ADHD kids then. Have you ever hear someone say "boys will be boys," that is little more than a euphemism for "I enable my child to get away with crap because of his gender." Lets say we have a 7 year old boy with ADHD. While he has a hard time focusing on history and English, but give him a new monster truck and I bet he can stay focused for hours. So what? He can only stay focused on something that is amusing to him? I call that selective thinking, much like selective hearing, you only hear what you want to when you want to. Lets use me for an example: it could be said that I have ADHD when it comes to economics. I have a hard time listening and staying focused. Because of this the concepts are difficult for me to understand. Now, do I have ADHD or do I just hate numbers and can't stand learning something so irrelevant to my life. Hmmm...  At the bottom of page 3 it says "may have been misdiagnosed or missed completely, causing suffering for the children and their families" more like when the kid is diagnosed he gets a free pass to continue acting out inappropriately and has a fall back as to why his actions and outbursts are okay for him to do. So while I defend my opinion I can go along with the article for the sake of argument.
    Of course kids should go play outside. This is little more than common sense for me. Maybe rather than these children with ADHD being calmer outside maybe we are misinterpreting what types of behaviors are acceptable in certain locations . There's nothing wrong with a child running and yelling if they're OUTSIDE but such behavior inside is unacceptable. The setting dictates what sorts of behaviors are acceptable.The very behaviors that result in discipline inside the home could be encouraged outside the home. I remember being told "if you're going to play with that ball you're going to have to take it outside," which does little more than enforce the idea that certain more rambunctious behaviors are do be done strictly outside. No one plays tackle football  in the house. So in a roundabout way, an ADHD child SHOULD take their energy outside to expel it. So by discrediting the article did I in fact just reinforce their point?
  I am going to stop talking about children with ADHD and rather focus on the "restorative environment." I always do my homework with the blinds up. I like to let the natural light in and I enjoy looking out at the trees. On days like today with the intense storms, I practically have to stop what I am doing to watch the rain, it's just enchanting. On days when I am really fatigued there is nothing better than a nice walk outside to clear my head and to settle me down. When available, I like to camp, canoe,  hike, fish, and swim. The natural beauty puts me in a good place and I leave feeling refreshed.  However, the peaceful zen that comes from being in nature isn't permanent. It needs to be renewed continually. A fifteen minute walk may be enough nature for one day but it may not cover the stresses of the next. In contrast, after 2 weeks of camping in Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas with my family I had taken in enough nature to last me several weeks. I think the amount of calm derived is proportional not only to the amount of time but also to the purity of the surrounding. While walking in my apartment complex is nice, there's trees, flowers, grass, and squirrels, it is also on side walk or black top, around buildings and cars, and through landscaped yards, kind of a synthetic nature, if you will. Or urban nature unlike the pure wild where there are no signs of people. For example, New york City's Central Park is designed to give urban dwellers a taste of nature. For many who live in the concrete jungle it probably does. Yet for me, from Wisconsin, being in a park so heavily populated would have to opposite effect on me. I would be watching all the people and wondering if any of them had the intent to mug me (in 2000 in Central Park I saw a man defecating in a raised shrub). The definition of "nature" is objective, yours may be different than mine. As for the misguided youth who were guided through Alaska, I would be surprised to learn if the effects were long lasting. While there are events in life that can change you, I don't believe that 2 weeks is enough to give them life long inner peace derived from nature. Hopefully though they learned the ways that nature can enrich their lives and bring them an internal calm and they seek to repeat the procedure throughout their lives.

Who Will Speak For Me? Reflections 3

I've never been a huge Jane Goodall fan and these chapters didn't reach as deep as the previous ones although there were a few parts I did enjoy and find touching.
      It's very easy to say "its just a bug" etc and not worry about things that are too small or even too unattractive to have practical purpose in modern times. I think what these people are missing is the inter-connectivity that plants and animals share. One small bug could be solely responsible for the pollination of a plant that is the sole food for an animal. Or that one ugly bug could play a major role in the decomposition of dead plant matter and the converting nitrogen into usage oxygen. If we let a few species go then where do we draw the line as to what is valuable as a species and worthy of being protected? My title comes from the infamous Martin Niemoller poem about the Nazis:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- 

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."

(United States Holocaust Museum, 2011 http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392).

Which I think could also be applied to flora and fauna if we began deciding which species were worthy enough to be protected. We are not the definitive power as to what plants and animals deserve to live whereas others are allowed to perish. If we put ourselves into such a position I believe the consequences could be dire as I feel we are ill prepared to make the correlations of each facet of the biological webs significance. 

    My favorite part of the reading were the activists reports of their special interactions with their species and how they interpreted the animals actions and emotions. I am frequently amazed to see people who did not grow up with various types of animals and the limited amount of emotional interpretation!  To me, there is so much variation of emotions expressed through movement as well as vocally and through expressions. I can tell when a chicken is annoyed, when a rabbit is thinking, when a cat has been scorned, and a horse about to be naughty. I really took for granted these kills I had honed over time until I was exposed to people who didn't have the skills. Perhaps like once we have allowed certain species to go extinct will be the time that we start to miss them. I chose the photo because animals have relationships that bring them joy and sadness much like people do. Its just our ability to interpret them that is lacking.