Not so PURE Michigan.

"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it."
–President Lyndon B. Johnson, on the signing of the Wilderness Act of 1964



I know that the purpose of this blog is to write about the good things in life. The meaning of this journey we are on, etc. But sometimes that feels like I'm just burying my head in the sand. And, it feels almost selfish to ignore the things that are happening in this world, that will ultimately effect the journey through life of future generations. So, yes, once in awhile I feel the need to vent. This is one of those times. 


This past week was a harsh lesson in reality.
The gas companies have come knockin' in our small communities. 
We are losing the fight. 


Since June, after watching a terrifying documentary called "Gasland" (See HERE) I've been struggling to come to terms with this inevitable new reality. (HERE). Yet, since it seemed so far away, and was happening elsewhere, I've continued to hope for a miracle. (And, yes, others have prayed, but that hasn't worked either).


In July, I even used the Kid Rock card. (HERE). But, since no one reads this blog, the only one comforted was me. But others with much larger audiences have written (HERE). Still nothing. It is if no one was reading. No one was listening. And no one was asking questions. But still I held out hope. 


Until last week, when it landed in our small communities in Central Michigan. And no one seems to care. And that is the most frightening. Some of us send them emails with the links to articles on what others have experienced, no response. Others put up signs, and people seem to drive right by. It is a hard fight with neighbors, and friends. And no matter how hard you try, it usually boils into a political argument. The information, no matter how truthful, is dismissed as left-wing hysteria or, my favorite, mainstream media garbage. And then I'm left to wonder, now who is burying their head in the sand?


I'm on the losing side of the argument because their is no financial reward for them to agree with me. The dollars are too tempting, I understand the economic times we are in. So, do the gas companies who are preying on these folks.


But, sadly, everyone will eventually lose here.  My neighbor's decision based on their own short-term financial needs will not only effect the long term health of their children, but mine. They are willing to trade the possibility of contaminating their wells and exposure to cancer causing agents for the sake of a few thousand dollars now. Those same agents, can slowly leak into my water supply as well. They can be consumed by the wildlife that we all hunt and they can enter the plants in the gardens we grow. Many of my neighbors are cattle ranchers, farmers and dairies. Will I be able to trust the word "organic" again?


These companies have already bought off the Michigan state legislature, and the Federal Government. The company sales people aren't going to tell you about "fracking" and what it will do to our water supplies, to our wildlife, to our children and to our future. And, these are the same companies that will continue to pour money into elections and groups like the Tea Party HERE. This chaos and bickering will continue to keep our eye off the ball and their profits will continue to pour in. A vicious circle with the Oil and Gas companies laughing all the way to the bank, and small town, middle America poisoned and dying.

How representatives from these companies mislead home howners:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/18/post_676_n_850425.html 

Carcinogens injected into wells:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/17/fracking-report-carcinogens-water-wells_n_850159.html

Jinxed It.

Last week I was lamenting for my fellow Americans in the Gulf Coast, and pondering the impact that such a disaster could have on Michigan. Looks like I jinxed it. We're about to find out. Right now 800,000+ gallons of oil have flowed into the Kalamazoo River. The Kalamazoo River flows into Lake Michigan.

When are we going to come together and put greed aside and think about the future of our planet?

Americans talk about how hard it is to break our addiction to oil, it can't be done. I understand it is difficult. A lot of things in life have been. America was built on a history of hard.

History proves THAT is when Americans rose to the occassion. We've crossed formidable oceans to start new lives, we've stopped incurable diseases, we stepped foot on the moon. People said it couldn't be done, but we proved them wrong.

Now we are at a crucial turning point in our survival as a human race. Have we given up on that can do spirit? Have we lost our ability to innovate? Have we lost our desire to care about a better life for our future generations?

Right now, I'm hanging my head in sorrow.

Follow the story here.

Here's the spin!

After watching all the news last night, I downed two glasses of wine, wept, and then looked online for some profound meaning. Who knew it would come from ol' Monty Python? 


I mean, so what we've dumped millions of gallons of oil and dispersants into the Gulf Coast, killed 11 miners, destroyed sealife and wetlands, and still don't what the total impact will be in the future? We must keep on drilling because money is more important than the planet! 
But, don't grumble, give a whistle!


And don't forget those Financial and Health Care Reform bills that don't reform? 
Just purse your lips and whistle!


After all, corporations have the same rights as people, say the judges who hold stock in their companies. 
Face the curtain with a bang!


Oh, and if you aren't as depressed as I am yet, might I suggest something besides the news. Last night I also discovered  "Gasland".  Apparently, our destruction of America has no limits. 
And as Monty has just reminded me "The last laugh is on you!".

Corporate Watch Dog-Old School

Once in awhile, just to irritate my sister Kelly, I stray from my sentimental and sappy format to go crazy, political. So, consider this your warning to click away now, so as to not ruin your day.

This is Clara.
Clara can't be bought off by your corporate dollars.
Clara isn't impressed by your smooth talk Mr. Lobbyist.
Clara won't back down from you sleazy, lawyer types.
Clara clearly recognizes our politicians on the take.
Clara never lets greed or lust for power influence her decisions.
America needs more Claras.

Looking at Clara I am reminded of those old lessons every mother and grandmother taught. Don't lie, don't cheat, and always wear clean underwear. And, there was definitely no room for selfishness.

Imagine telling Clara, "I'm sorry, but I need you to loan me the last dollar you have otherwise I won't get my multi-million dollar bonus, on top of my multi-million dollar salary this year. I know it is my fault that I ran my business into the ground, but if I fail what will become of you?" Clara would hand him a hoe, and instruct him to work for it.

Or, picture explaining the health care debate to Clara, "I know that your next door neighbor's daughter needs surgery to live, but that is her problem for being poor. I must protect my own self-interest with the health care lobbyists." Clara would have explained to him the meaning of charity back behind the woodshed.

All these lessons from childhood, seem to have been lost somewhere along this journey.  We have thrown away our history books, deregulated big business, elected morally corrupt politicians, given corporations the same rights as citizens and angrily declared to not compromise! (because that is what TRUE americans do).

So, instead of doing the right things, we argue like school children. Pouting in our corners because we can't have our way. In the meantime, the world seems to be disintegrating around us.

If Clara were here today, she would smack our heads together and tell us to get over ourselves. She would find us a project that would force us to work side by side. And in the end, it would teach us that we are in this together.

The death of 11 oil workers and the slow, suffering death of our Gulf Coast is the unfortunate lesson of not having the right watch dog over corporations.

If we had a Clara, she would stand watch over BP employees to make sure they worked quickly to repair their error. (Not that this would have EVEN HAPPENED on her watch) She would drag the big shots from their corporate offices to the shoreline, hand them shovels and tell them to start cleaning up their mess. After they were done, Clara would load them up in the back of a slow-moving wagon (so passerbys could wave and say their peace) and drive the corporate officers straight to the prison gates.

This is Clara.
And she approves this message.

In memory of the Deepwater Horizon employees and their families.

A prophacy from Chief Seattle:

"Our God is the same God. You may think that you own him as you wish to own our land, but you cannot. He is the Body of man, and his compassion is equal for the redman and the white. This earth is precious to him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator. The whites, too, shall pass - perhaps sooner than other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste. When the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses all tamed, the secret corners of the forest heavy with the scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by the talking wires, where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone. And what is it to say goodbye to the swift and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival."

CLICK HERE. What BP doesn't want you to see.

CORPORATE BLOCKADE. "But it's not BP's land." OR, IS IT?

Be a Clara, stand up to Corporations.