Pete Seeger musician, folk singer, philosopher, activist died on
January 27, 2014 at the age of 94. He lived a life committed to
fairness and justice.
He used a 12 string guitar, and a five-string banjo to pluck out melody.
With lyrics that spoke to all people, he told the story of the
power of people working together to overcome injustice, intolerance
and inequality.
Activist since the age of 17, he lived through nearly 100 years of
America's individual and communal violence at the same time
inspiring many to believe in their power to overcome intolerable
conditions. His dignity and personal simplicity was inspired by his
love of people and nature.
Whether marching with "Occupy Wall Street", or recognizing the
need for labor unions, or refusing to swear that he was not a communist
before a US Senate Committe, Seeger swore allegiance to America's
promise to lift humanity beyond the narrow confines of bigotry.
At an age when many people resist change, when many seniors refuse
to read or hear or learn about other regions of the world, Pete Seeger
was still marching with young and old for social causes and urging
people to "think globally and act locally."
Pete Seeger will be missed but his music and lyrics will still, and always
call us to values of fairness and respect for each other and our country
and America will be the better for it.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
SOUNDS OF THE FUTURE?
Just about kick off time at the Super Bowl, Missouri as well as states
North, East and South of us heard a strange, loud sound.
Here in St. Louis the noise reached us at dinner time and than it was
repeated before our lights went out leaving us in total darkness for a
short time. The sound was described variously by people as a sonic
boom, a late afternoon truck delivery or a big highway accident, or
something being dropped on the roof.
According to Andrew Long researcher at the University of Toronto
Scarborough Climate Laboratory it was a "frost quake" produced
by the zero and below degree climate we have been experiencing
since the first of the year. These temperatures cause the earth's plates
to move about and crash into each other creating odd sounds.
"Frost quake" or no, our lights came back on quickly, we went on with
our dinner and I was left with the strong feeling that this will not be the
last time we experience these "noises" and occurrences in the future.
North, East and South of us heard a strange, loud sound.
Here in St. Louis the noise reached us at dinner time and than it was
repeated before our lights went out leaving us in total darkness for a
short time. The sound was described variously by people as a sonic
boom, a late afternoon truck delivery or a big highway accident, or
something being dropped on the roof.
According to Andrew Long researcher at the University of Toronto
Scarborough Climate Laboratory it was a "frost quake" produced
by the zero and below degree climate we have been experiencing
since the first of the year. These temperatures cause the earth's plates
to move about and crash into each other creating odd sounds.
"Frost quake" or no, our lights came back on quickly, we went on with
our dinner and I was left with the strong feeling that this will not be the
last time we experience these "noises" and occurrences in the future.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
C O R R E C T I O N
In my January 20 post, "LABADIE ANOTHER KANAWHA?"
the Missouri River was improperly identified.
The River runs next to Ameren's Labadie plant where plans for a landfill
are being contested by the Labadie Environmental Organization.
the Missouri River was improperly identified.
The River runs next to Ameren's Labadie plant where plans for a landfill
are being contested by the Labadie Environmental Organization.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
KIEV: CONNECTING THE DOTS!
My grandparents often spoke of Kiev. They referred to it as a City
in Russia close to where they lived. They spoke of it fondly while
describing how threatened they were by Russian authorities.
They came to America because of fear of the Russian military and
because their 15-year old son was participating in efforts that today
we might call an uprising.
It is only recently after reading about the uprising in the Ukraine
that I realized that the Kiev my grandparents spoke of was indeed
the Ukainian Capital and not a Russian city.
I find it odd to read about and watch men and women in the heart
of Ukraine's political crisis without wondering could they be my kin?
I have always believed the world is small and that as a species
we humans are related, somehow. The Ukarinian upheaval
connects the dots to the oppression felt by my grandparents
to me in a very personal way, and there too am I.
in Russia close to where they lived. They spoke of it fondly while
describing how threatened they were by Russian authorities.
They came to America because of fear of the Russian military and
because their 15-year old son was participating in efforts that today
we might call an uprising.
It is only recently after reading about the uprising in the Ukraine
that I realized that the Kiev my grandparents spoke of was indeed
the Ukainian Capital and not a Russian city.
I find it odd to read about and watch men and women in the heart
of Ukraine's political crisis without wondering could they be my kin?
I have always believed the world is small and that as a species
we humans are related, somehow. The Ukarinian upheaval
connects the dots to the oppression felt by my grandparents
to me in a very personal way, and there too am I.
Monday, January 27, 2014
ONE PICTURE = 10,000 WORDS!
Weather forecasters have been diligent about warning people about
on coming blizzards, road and school closings, and projected
sub zero temperatures.
People walking on the way to work and others stranded
on an impassable road were interviewed.
In the midst of storms we listened as everyone, pundits and comics alike
projected when the weather will change for the better.
At times we have pleaded and cajoled mother nature to change her
ugly mood, to no avail.
But just when we were fully exasperated one picture of a street sign
almost hidden by a huge snow bank amidst swirling gusts of snow
sent a message to the queen of all seasons
The message was a simple STOP sign!
on coming blizzards, road and school closings, and projected
sub zero temperatures.
People walking on the way to work and others stranded
on an impassable road were interviewed.
In the midst of storms we listened as everyone, pundits and comics alike
projected when the weather will change for the better.
At times we have pleaded and cajoled mother nature to change her
ugly mood, to no avail.
But just when we were fully exasperated one picture of a street sign
almost hidden by a huge snow bank amidst swirling gusts of snow
sent a message to the queen of all seasons
The message was a simple STOP sign!
Monday, January 20, 2014
LABADIE ANOTHER KANAWHA?
Because of the recent chemical spill in West Virginia and because my
blog is sent to former colleagues, friends, family and environmental
activists here and across the country, I share this story with you.
A few years ago I facilitated a course on the environment for the
Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) of Washington University in St. Louis.
LLI offers classes for people 55 years old and older.
Halfway through the semester some of the people told me of their effort
to stop a proposed landfill very near the Missouri River. The landfill
was proposed by Ameren, Missouri's Electric company to expand the
boundaries of the company's Labadie plant.
Labadie is a sparsely populated hamlet about 40 miles West of St. Louis
by a creek that runs off into the Missouri River. It has a general store
which serves as grocery, bakery, butcher shop, automotive center and
coffee shop. One of the clerks said she was born and raised in Labadie.
I asked if she knew anything about Ameren's plan to build a landfill
nearby. She told me she did. She was "worried about making a landfill
out of bottom land." She knew some people were trying to stop the
landfill. I bought coffee and a donut and she directed me to the house
I wanted.
I came into a large, well appointed living room with a
picture window and a view of a small creek running alongside
three Labadie smoke stacks. Fifteen people were introduced
as members of the Labadie Environmental Organization (LEO).
Many of the people were born and raised in Labadie while others
had moved to the area as adults. All were knowledgeable about the
environmental value of the land and the importance of the little creek
that runs off into the Missouri River where Labadie wants to build its
landfill.
I thought about the people in my class and in Labadie and about Ameren
as I read about Kanawha County, West Virginia where hundreds of
thousands of people are without water because of a leak in a tank
which held toxic chemicals that seeped into the nearby Elk River.
The Company which owned the tanks is now under investigation and
many public questions still remain.
Was there an absence of governmental regulation? Did people who
lived near the tanks question their proximity to the Elk River? Were
community concerns looked into by elected officials? Will the River
carry its toxic water into Charleston, West Virginia?
While here in Missouri, The Labadie Environmental Organization
formed by a tireless leader and a small group of citizens have been
working since 2009 to stop Ameren Electric Company from
placing a landfill near a small creek that flows into the Missouri River.
So far they have gained some community support and are consulting with
environmental and legal authorities because they believe Ameren's
landfill could contaminate the small creek nearby. Will they succeed?
We don't know.
What I do know is that because of this delay, a small band of citizens
in Labadie, Missouri are providing all of us with the time and
opportunity to question even corporate behemoths like Ameren and help
keep all of us from the fate of Kanawha County, West Virginia.
blog is sent to former colleagues, friends, family and environmental
activists here and across the country, I share this story with you.
A few years ago I facilitated a course on the environment for the
Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) of Washington University in St. Louis.
LLI offers classes for people 55 years old and older.
Halfway through the semester some of the people told me of their effort
to stop a proposed landfill very near the Missouri River. The landfill
was proposed by Ameren, Missouri's Electric company to expand the
boundaries of the company's Labadie plant.
Labadie is a sparsely populated hamlet about 40 miles West of St. Louis
by a creek that runs off into the Missouri River. It has a general store
which serves as grocery, bakery, butcher shop, automotive center and
coffee shop. One of the clerks said she was born and raised in Labadie.
I asked if she knew anything about Ameren's plan to build a landfill
nearby. She told me she did. She was "worried about making a landfill
out of bottom land." She knew some people were trying to stop the
landfill. I bought coffee and a donut and she directed me to the house
I wanted.
I came into a large, well appointed living room with a
picture window and a view of a small creek running alongside
three Labadie smoke stacks. Fifteen people were introduced
as members of the Labadie Environmental Organization (LEO).
Many of the people were born and raised in Labadie while others
had moved to the area as adults. All were knowledgeable about the
environmental value of the land and the importance of the little creek
that runs off into the Missouri River where Labadie wants to build its
landfill.
I thought about the people in my class and in Labadie and about Ameren
as I read about Kanawha County, West Virginia where hundreds of
thousands of people are without water because of a leak in a tank
which held toxic chemicals that seeped into the nearby Elk River.
The Company which owned the tanks is now under investigation and
many public questions still remain.
Was there an absence of governmental regulation? Did people who
lived near the tanks question their proximity to the Elk River? Were
community concerns looked into by elected officials? Will the River
carry its toxic water into Charleston, West Virginia?
While here in Missouri, The Labadie Environmental Organization
formed by a tireless leader and a small group of citizens have been
working since 2009 to stop Ameren Electric Company from
placing a landfill near a small creek that flows into the Missouri River.
So far they have gained some community support and are consulting with
environmental and legal authorities because they believe Ameren's
landfill could contaminate the small creek nearby. Will they succeed?
We don't know.
What I do know is that because of this delay, a small band of citizens
in Labadie, Missouri are providing all of us with the time and
opportunity to question even corporate behemoths like Ameren and help
keep all of us from the fate of Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
BLIZZARD OF 2014
Warnings of record breaking snow storms send us all to the Supermarket.
Once there, all neighborly interaction ceases.
It's everyone for them self. Shoppers run up and down the isles
plucking things of the shelves as if the item is the last one to be found.
Often it is.
Because we have become urban creatures, we expect our basic needs
to be found in Supermarkets. We no longer have the luxury of growing
our own vegetables and produce and canning them.
Nor are we near a small corner store that somehow stayed opened
through storms because the owner lived "upstairs."
We no longer have to trudge across wind swept fields to reach our barns. Instead we push carts that get stuck in the middle of a jammed parking lot. Roads are a menace to car and truck divers. Our view out the window is that of a fine, white mist. Snow piles up and even plows are having a difficult time.
With it all, children are bundled up and go sledding and sliding up and down the nearest hills shouting with glee as they build snow forts to make "virtual" war. Policemen, firemen, doctors, nurses, those who care for others somehow go about their business.
We relish the quietness of snow, the chance to read, to cook, and maybe even give a nod to nature who seems to have the ability to equalize all in her wake, while thinking of those less fortunate needing to deal with the blizzard.
Once there, all neighborly interaction ceases.
It's everyone for them self. Shoppers run up and down the isles
plucking things of the shelves as if the item is the last one to be found.
Often it is.
Because we have become urban creatures, we expect our basic needs
to be found in Supermarkets. We no longer have the luxury of growing
our own vegetables and produce and canning them.
Nor are we near a small corner store that somehow stayed opened
through storms because the owner lived "upstairs."
We no longer have to trudge across wind swept fields to reach our barns. Instead we push carts that get stuck in the middle of a jammed parking lot. Roads are a menace to car and truck divers. Our view out the window is that of a fine, white mist. Snow piles up and even plows are having a difficult time.
With it all, children are bundled up and go sledding and sliding up and down the nearest hills shouting with glee as they build snow forts to make "virtual" war. Policemen, firemen, doctors, nurses, those who care for others somehow go about their business.
We relish the quietness of snow, the chance to read, to cook, and maybe even give a nod to nature who seems to have the ability to equalize all in her wake, while thinking of those less fortunate needing to deal with the blizzard.
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