It's almost too sad to even talk about. Here in the Poconos, where I've lived for 50 years now, a dear friend and one of the finest pianists I've ever known just spent a part of several days filling trash bags with items thrown out by passing cars. Yes, people love to come here and dispose of their trash wherever they feel like it. There are cans everywhere, but why stop to dispose of a few items when it's so easy to toss them out of a car window? So my friend gives up hours of practice and wades through poison ivy and deals with tics and other noxious insects because he wants to do his part for this little corner of the world he loves. And he's not alone, many join him, and if I could get my back to cooperate I would as well. I know that seems a small thing .. but is it, really? Isn't it a symptom of how carelessly we view the earth we live on? George Carlin was right, though, I think. The earth will be here long after humanity has managed to destroy itself.
Here in Michigan it's rare to see trash alongside the road. That's because we have big fines for littering.
When we travel south we're always surprised to see it piling up along the freeways. Then we realize we aren't seeing signs warning against littering, as we see in other states. No fines, no compliance, I guess.
I remember the first Earth Day well. Along with Silent Spring, there was Diet for a Small Planet, not to mention a mountain of research and modeling that predicted exactly what we've seen happen in the past 53 years. It feels like people are finally waking up to what we've known so long. The craftily named Inflation Reduction Act is a big deal, and
if Gen Z votes for continued change, there's still time to mitigate some of the damage. Moderately hopeful...
Propaganda from the for-profit geniuses works well when it comes to deregulating ecological protections. Their power grows and they never run out of money. We'll never fix this with Band-Aids, yet Band-Aids are what we get.
Every year, when I do this, I hate that the message never changes. Any advancements are so minor we can never get out from under the fear that it's not enough, it'll never be enough, so if the next generation is going to lead on this, they'd better get cracking.
I'm so with you on this Mona. Mother Earth has had it with us and I don't blame her for shaking us off her back like a dog with fleas. The profit mongers redirect the masses to consumption frenzies with the justification that we can move to another planet or be lifted to the heavens so we don't have to take care of our home. Living beyond our means has become the American dream and protecting our planet is just too inconvenient. Silly humans. It looks like we're doomed......
It's almost too sad to even talk about. Here in the Poconos, where I've lived for 50 years now, a dear friend and one of the finest pianists I've ever known just spent a part of several days filling trash bags with items thrown out by passing cars. Yes, people love to come here and dispose of their trash wherever they feel like it. There are cans everywhere, but why stop to dispose of a few items when it's so easy to toss them out of a car window? So my friend gives up hours of practice and wades through poison ivy and deals with tics and other noxious insects because he wants to do his part for this little corner of the world he loves. And he's not alone, many join him, and if I could get my back to cooperate I would as well. I know that seems a small thing .. but is it, really? Isn't it a symptom of how carelessly we view the earth we live on? George Carlin was right, though, I think. The earth will be here long after humanity has managed to destroy itself.
Here in Michigan it's rare to see trash alongside the road. That's because we have big fines for littering.
When we travel south we're always surprised to see it piling up along the freeways. Then we realize we aren't seeing signs warning against littering, as we see in other states. No fines, no compliance, I guess.
I remember the first Earth Day well. Along with Silent Spring, there was Diet for a Small Planet, not to mention a mountain of research and modeling that predicted exactly what we've seen happen in the past 53 years. It feels like people are finally waking up to what we've known so long. The craftily named Inflation Reduction Act is a big deal, and
if Gen Z votes for continued change, there's still time to mitigate some of the damage. Moderately hopeful...
Propaganda from the for-profit geniuses works well when it comes to deregulating ecological protections. Their power grows and they never run out of money. We'll never fix this with Band-Aids, yet Band-Aids are what we get.
Every year, when I do this, I hate that the message never changes. Any advancements are so minor we can never get out from under the fear that it's not enough, it'll never be enough, so if the next generation is going to lead on this, they'd better get cracking.
Thanks Ramona - so timely AND so important! Decided to "share" this to my FB Feed. One very small attempt to raise more awareness :-)
Great! Thanks!
I'm so with you on this Mona. Mother Earth has had it with us and I don't blame her for shaking us off her back like a dog with fleas. The profit mongers redirect the masses to consumption frenzies with the justification that we can move to another planet or be lifted to the heavens so we don't have to take care of our home. Living beyond our means has become the American dream and protecting our planet is just too inconvenient. Silly humans. It looks like we're doomed......