Friday, April 25, 2008

Some Pondering About Things that Trouble Me

I only have so much time before it's all gone, or either I die, to roam this earth on foot and soak up the natural medicine that fills me with something I need deep down. It's a strong force that speaks to me in primitive ways that I cannot explain in words. It is a feeling that only others who seek it and truly experience it understand, which is ironic because religious people say the very same thing, and as everyone knows, I don't have a religious bone in my body. But if there is spirituality or something like it in us, I'd say the outdoors is about as close as it gets for me.

What I'm talking about has nothing to do with any kind of religious belief, however I'm sure many who seek what I seek are of all walks of life, including the religious amongst us. I'm fine with that of course. Anyone who is a friend of nature and our planet has my respect. For that matter any decent human being who cares about humanity has my respect. But I think I'm digressing a tiny bit.

I'll continue. Natural things in outdoor settings is where it's at for me. It is what I need to feel whole and connected to the universe of which I'm made of. I can think of nothing more natural and powerful than the forces of our ever changing universe at work and how it affects all life as we know it and how it affects me personally.

But I'm deeply troubled. The balance of things is way out of whack, which is blatantly evident. Species all over the planet are going extinct at alarming rates, oceans are becoming depleted and dying from over fishing and pollutants of all kinds, including very dangerous toxins that do untold damage to marine life.

Plastics are a problem because they pollute the waters with poisonous particles that are starting to out number the plankton in a large chunk of ocean. I just learned that by the way watching a documentary and was astounded by it. I've always known that without plankton in healthy numbers, the ocean will deteriorate until there is only a vast uninhabitable wasteland of water. But I didn't know that plastics played a huge role in that deterioration. How long will it take to saturate the whole ocean with our pollutants? Without the oceans, most everything on this planet will go extinct including humans.

Not only are our oceans a huge concern, other ecosystems are failing as well. Our fragile lives hang in the balance. Not just our lives, but every living thing, or mostly everything. Cock roaches may very well survive when nothing is left and I'm sure the planet will survive as well, as it has for billions of years. And other life will probably remain, such as microbes and extremephiles in particular. But life as we know and want it, will be gone. It's already slipping from our grasp second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, year by year...

The question is will we be able to do enough globally to buy us more time and possibly even reverse the damage being done? I implore people to really think this over if they are not doing so already. For the sake of generations to come, this is the most important problem the people of earth need to be concerned with.

You know about all those damned stupid religious wars over in the middle east and the ones here at home. You know about the endless wars fought due to cultural differences. You know about the conflicts of all sorts in different societies, anything from race issues to abortion. I could go on and on about problems that plague us all, but the thing most people seem to fail to realize, is none of it is going to matter if something isn't done about the planet that sustains each of us, because we simply won't be here anymore, which frankly I think sucks.

I fear my children will see in their lifetimes our ecosystems rapidly disintegrating, which will result in horrible famines the likes of which none have ever seen, terrible violence too close to home because of very scarce rescorces available, and panicked people, etc... If people all over this planet don't take heed of the evidence everywhere that our species is in trouble, we are doomed to see major upheaval and collapse. I don't want my children to have to live through that horror.

Make no mistake. This isn't end of the world prophecy bullshit, this is humankind pushing the limits and racing towards destroying itself because of competition and selfish consumption. For that matter, I think all the religious nuts in the world are trying their best to make things happen to fit their mystical prophecies of doom for the people of earth. They are so determined to be right about their beliefs they will throw the baby out with the bathwater. Dumb asses.

I hope it's not too late and that we will prevail to save our planet. I try not to dwell too much on it, but I have to get on my soap box every once in a while to hopefully reach some and it turn into a ripple effect.

Now I'm in no way perfect. I'm trying to practice what I preach. I could consume less and am making an effort to do so. I use energy efficient light bulbs. I save water as much as possible and don't water in the summer even though the yard really needs it. I turn off lights constantly, and try to use as less energy as possible heating and cooling the house. I compost as much material as I can and recycle many things, often turning them into some kind of art project. I've found all kinds of useful things that don't need to be in the landfills sitting by curb sides and various places that can be refurbished or somehow recycled. So I think I'm off to a good start.

How about you?

4 comments:

Little Mama said...

This stuff really weighs on my mind too. In fact, I make myself crazy sometimes thinking what kind of world I brought kids into and what kind of craziness will they experience in their lifetimes due to the stupidity and greediness of humankind. I'm like you though, I am working daily to find new ways to decrease my eco-footprint. I am getting ready to completely re-vamp my cleaning closet. Out with plastics, in with wood. Out with store bought cleaners (even though I use the organic stuff) and in with vinegar and baking soda. In the long run, I think it will be cheaper and of course easier on the environment. I am using fluorescent bulbs and I recycle like a mad woman and I nag the crap out of the boy to not waste water. I just wish everyone else would make at least that level of commitment to our environment, and strive to do more. I'd be interested in talking to you about how to get composting going, been considering vermiculture as well, it would make nice fertilizer for my gardens! I just have to figure out where to store the little buggers!

Ginny said...

I love vermiculture! I'm experienced at it and know exactly how to get you off and running.

It's EASY and worm poo is black gold for the garden. Plants have nutrients handed right to them...as if they are bottle fed like infants.

I'm going to start a whole new way of composting that I think will be more efficient and keep unsightly compost piles from ever being an issue.

I'm going to order my red wigglers, dump a ton of compost in the garden plots when I finish moving them around, and make worm beds directly in the garden. I'm going to mix our food scraps in with the soil every few days and let the worms eat themselves silly.

Composting will be done immediately and I won't have to turn a big heavy pile once a week and go out of my way to water said pile.

So store the little buggers right in your own garden plots. Since you will be watering your garden frequently, the soil will always be nice and cool deep down, along with the proper moisture for the wigglers. Raised beds will work best for this.

It will be easy as pie in a raised bed that has fresh loose fertile soil to mix table scraps in the soil close to the plant you want to feed. The worms will come eat and poo right where the plant needs it.

Cool huh?

Little Mama said...

I had heard that the worms don't like it over 85* F, which is why I was considering having a bucket inside. I have a friend who keeps hers under the kitchen sink I have a worm connection if you need one. One of my mom's good friends in NM has a worm farm and would be thrilled to supply us. I will call you as I have had an idea regarding vermiculture, but have a hard time getting things going solo, and you know they say two brains are better, blah, blah, blah. I'll call you early next week. If for nothing else, lets just chat and catch up. I miss ya!

Ginny said...

You are probably correct about the temps. I really don't know myself, but you have the biology degree so...there ya go.

I'd love to get a phone call from you. Of course I could get off my lazy dialing finger and phone too. ;)

We really should organize a quick weekend camping trip too...