By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
“If nature were a bank, they would have already rescued it.”
— Eduardo Galeano
It’s Beltane. It’s Spring. It’s snowing.
I guess you can take the girl out of California, but — well — you know the rest. Almost fifteen years into this adventure, I’ve never truly acclimatized to Midwestern weather patterns. I’m still startled by the starkness of forests bereft of leaves or an achingly-long winter landscape dressed only in black, white and shades of gray. The swelling and budding of trees, the quiet, almost instantaneous transformation of a harshly vertical world into one softened under a vivid green canopy, always come as something of a surprise, even though it’s expected.
What isn’t expected — by me or anyone else I’ve talked to lately — is to see that lush new foliage covered with clumps of wet, white snow in May. Coming on the heels of three 80+ degree days, a plummet into daytime temps in the 30s is not just a shock, it’s unprecedented. Those of us who live close to the land check weather a couple of times a day. These days, you have to. Heavy rain preceded this latest weather assault, unable to soak into ground already saturated by better-than-average rainfall earlier in the month. It doesn’t take much intellect to wake up and smell the irony that a drought-stricken section of the nation not only exceeded its need for water but is endangered by flooding.
Winter storm Achilles is breaking records in Missouri, which has had only one other May snow event in recorded history, and well to the north — in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota, where they expect extremes — records have been broken as well. Sioux Falls hadn’t had a May snowfall since 1944, and an astonished Tulsa never had one at all. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi, the major waterway of the nation’s interior, has settled into a disastrous flood and drought cycle that is exacerbated by outdated planning and a tug of war between business and environmentalists. Apparently no infrastructure in this nation has been attended to since the Fifties, and we’ve been asleep at the switch since.
Since I’d followed my intuition and planted most everything in large containers which are now weathering the storm inside, I won’t lose anything from my garden (except perhaps the baby lettuce and onion starts I’m currently fighting the elements for) but there’s no denying that this will be yet another year with a slim fruit crop and late local produce. Once again, climate change is messing with the food supply in a way impossible to ignore, one that even the simplest minds can grasp. Easier to turn a blind eye to greenhouse gas, farm subsidy and the results of toxic factory farming than to deal with the obvious: digging out your front stoop in May. Oh, yes! This is the perfect time to have that conversation with your neighbor.
Much like Hurricane Sandy, winter storm Achilles should be, for all intents and purposes, a teaching moment regarding global warming, but the very mention of warming while retreating to stocking caps and mittens in May will be more confusion than some of us can manage. Maybe if we changed the label to global extremes, everyone would get that we have an emergency on our hands and a responsibility to attend it. Corporations — which by law are configured to maximize profit — won’t ever be friendly toward environmental regulations, being unable to “hear” the wisdom of not killing the golden goose, so the remaining argument has to do with ethical stewardship of the planet. And sadly, ethics ain’t what they used to be.
Me, I blame Jesus, or at least those who insist he’s due any minute. If his followers didn’t expect him back in a cape and mask to save us, we’d probably try a little harder to save ourselves. Don’t laugh: 41% of Americans think he’ll be back by 2050, while 38% are pretty sure he won’t show up in the next four years, but any time after that. I can’t even begin to imagine where we’ll be in 2050 if we don’t begin to take action now.
I’ve been watching the PBS series on the dust bowl these last few weeks, and the extraordinary turnaround that occurred when scientists put their heads together and began rotating and terracing crops seemed — tragically — so simple and yet so late in the game. In days gone by, we turned to science for answers and got them. Now, scientific thought isn’t nearly as persuasive as the contrarian notions that money, fear and stubbornness can buy.
Getting climate change reality across to those who refuse to hear it is quite a dilemma. Watch this brief YouTube clip with Senator Al Franken, trying to explain the difference between science and opinion to Congress. It’s pitiful that something like this should go on national record, but only if you’re easily embarrassed, I guess. The Republicans seem to have no fear of putting on a Bozo nose and behaving like loons if it earns them a check from ‘big bid’ness’ or a vote for re-election.
I blogged on this issue years ago, suggesting that one of the problems in getting Republican assistance with anything was their spit-in-the-eye refusal to do anything they didn’t think of first. “Don’t tell ME what to do!” is their battle cry, and that aligns nicely with the most simplistic interpretation of the notion that mankind has dominion over all the earth, able to do as s/he wishes. With that kind of an attitude, in 2050 (when Jesus comes back,) there’ll be blowing sands and not much else.
If you’re way beyond the simple arguments, load this YouTube, put together by Grist staff writer, David Roberts; it’s a good one to pass around. This read from Organic Consumers also contains good information, explaining how the majority of our 21st century farming practice makes the most extreme use of chemicals and toxins in order to produce feed lots for animals. This is important because even the usually conservative scientists at World Bank Group “claim that more than half of the green house gasses are emitted from animal agriculture.”
Lefty columnist David Sirota argues that if we substituted non-animal proteins for every fourth dinner menu, we could make a considerable change in the national footprint. The problem, suggests Sirota, is with the politics born of ideologies within the two parties. He writes:
The trouble, of course, is that environmentalism and conservation — like everything else — have been unduly politicized. Consequently, opposing those once-universal values now seems to be viewed by many on the right as a constructive expression of patriotic defiance. Indeed, according to one recent study, many self-described conservatives will refuse to buy a green product once they see it marketed as being environmentally responsible. Similarly, another study shows that conservatives are prone to consume more energy when warned that they are already using a lot.
It all comes down to authority. Some of us trust government to behave in the people’s best interest, and are willing to push hard, invest ourselves, to make sure that happens. On the other side of the fence, close to 30% of conservatives are expecting an armed revolution in the next few years (hence their passionate investment in “Take America Back” buttons and stockpiles of ammo in the basement).
As illogical as it sounds, the notion that God isn’t an environmentalist (although Goddess, and all her hippy-dippy admirers, surely is) is at the crux of our communication problems. Gratefully, the polls reflect a good deal more common sense, these days, than do the politicians and their rural, old and mostly white constituents. Like everything else we’re facing, the political divide on climate change isn’t so great a problem as the broken political system that keeps a handful of radicals, and an army of eager lobbyists, in power.
Of course, the general public has not been asked to give up their hamburgers or pay substantially more energy costs in order to make a transition to an effective green economy. That’s a hard sell, but snow in May and rising sea water may do the trick. How would that look? It would take some real educational commitment from the government along with a willingness to be instructed from the public; but first, we would have to agree to prioritize the general well-being of our citizens and our planet over corporate profits or banking schemes. And anxious as we all are to see that happen, snow or no snow, that won’t be taking place this week.
So it’s climate change on every plate today, here and across the world. Snow and rain in the Eastern US, burning time in the West. To my homies in the Golden State — suffering projections of a dire and dry season unassisted by the inadequate 17% snow pack this year and already smelling smoke from dozens of fires brought to you on stiff Santa Ana winds — hang in there. Snow may be my problem but water is yours. Those of you on the Pacific coast need to watch out for the water wars ahead, the frackers and exploiters, but that’s another essay.
Now, a word about Jesus. I have about zero confidence in a second coming of the historical Jesus — the “baby Jesus” as my daughter so often says, making me laugh. Not so, however, Christ consciousness. Christ consciousness is the reason, in my opinion, that so many of us have not thrown the Christianity baby out with the bathwater. The majority of the Jesus story paints an unusual and unlikely portrait of someone confident of his own divinity and able to think outside the box of common thought, able to inspire and encourage others, which is what made him dangerous to authority. Whether historically accurate or a fairy tale, the example of such a life story is paradigm changing, a pathway to transformation should we wish to embrace and duplicate it.
I have EVERY confidence that same energy is moving across the face of the planet today. Christ consciousness is about the human heart, about the connection we have to one another and everything that is. Christ consciousness is that spark of divinity we call the Great Mystery. Once you’ve had an experience of that, it’s impossible to ignore. As Albert Einstein wrote, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”
All true art and science, then, come from that same Source that lifts us and brings us into harmony with one another. That consciousness can mend our differences, our planet and our future. It’s ours to call upon, if we want to surrender to its alchemy and instruction, its counsel and encouragement.
The Second Coming isn’t about someone returning, one of these days, to save us. It’s about a rare and extraordinary energy signal, a free-flowing connection to a loving Cosmos, here now, that’s empowering us to save ourselves: one step, one menu selection, one political vote, one conversation and one artistic expression at a time.
Blessed be each of you, this Beltane. Love your life, your planet, your neighbor as yourself. You’re the mystery and as your heart opens, love will heal and make beautiful all that you touch. Do it for your own sake and for your Mother’s.
I’ve always had an odd way of looking at things; of connecting seemingly unrelated dots to see if an interesting picture popped out at me. Then I discovered “permaculture” and realized I’m not alone in believing everything is connected. We are establishing a family homestead on 40 acres (slow going so far). I’ve decided to turn my urban lot into a food forest, since I’m not prepared to move anytime soon. I’m impatiently waiting for delivery of fruit and nut trees and bushes.
You ARE our flag-bearer Judith 🙂
We need a reality check. Until people wake up and realize they need to actually do something to create change, nothing will change. Strong third parties on the political scene will help but its feet on the ground that will make a real difference. At the rate we are going, something will happen when Americans face a Cyprus moment and our monies are being confiscated and our deposits are not insured. That is when we will have the attention of our fellow Americans and the rest of the world.
Taunting me with carne asada, GaryB? Is that nice? I think not! Especially here where it’s TexMex or nothing at all — worse, the Chinese place served cashew chicken to this Bay Area girl in great breaded chunks covered with brown gravy, sprinkled with a scattering of cashews (but only ONCE, never again!) I try not to think of actual Mandarin offerings, San Francisco style, or machaca San Diego style, or fat little fish tacos with shredded cabbage and pico de gallo! (Now you’ve really set me off!!!) And thanks for the intro, kiddo — I’ll set some time aside to enjoy Nancy’s blog.
Thanks, too, for the link, Lizzy — charming terrain. And for the pep talk, Mia.
Dear be, I’m laughing because that ‘Woman Activist … Dramatizing Her Cause’ is me. That 15+ Gem is my natal 5th house Uranus, trigger to the bowl configuration of my planets. I’ve always thought of her as my Wild Card, the one that kicks up shit and waves her flag! Of my planets, that and my Venus on the mid-heaven are the two that I relate to the most. Guess you can’t fight your Astro-DNA, huh?
Gosh, Bette, sounds like you’ll be even happier to see mild weather than I will! And I know what it’s like to be “surrounded,” kiddo, that describes me, too, but I’m not giving up. I’m still visualizing a big cosmic Light Bulb over the heads of us all. And good gardening to you, when it’s warm enough; the simple pleasures are the best, seems to me.
Well shucks, I was giving credit to Juno in Pluto’s ingress chart when it should have said Pallas-Athene. Not that Juno doesn’t carry her fair share of raising the world’s consciousness to include more of the feminine influence. I mean, look at where she was in the Winter Solstice chart. . conjunct the Sun at 0 Capricorn! Ooops. . speaking of the Solstice, I fudged a few arc minutes on Vesta’s position as she had just backed out of 15+ Gemini into 14+ Gemini. But! She WAS opposite Mercury at 14 Gemini and the Great Attractor at 14 Gemini, and she WAS conjunct Chaos at 15 Gemini rx. As it stands, today Chaos and Sphinx are both at 15+ Gemini.
You should also disregard the floating line at the end of my earlier reply that I thought had disappeared so retyped. (My computer has weird buttons too mia). Did I mention that trans. Neptune is now quincunx my Mercury? adjust, adjust, adjust. . . .
be
Due to hitting a button on my computer, part of my comment was eliminated. I had included the news that Obama has named his friend Penny Prizker as Secretary of Commerce. Billionaire Prizker is Obama’s friend from Chicago who raised/donated $17 million dollars towards the $35 million dollar estate the Obamas closed on in January of this year. Nice perk for both parties.
I participated in a conference call this morning with two third party candidates for president:
Rocky Anderson from 2012 and Ralph Nader from 2008 and other years. The Justice and Green Party, respectively. The main topic was minimum wage at $7.25 an hour. Ralph said that in Australia, when you reach the age of 20 you automatically make $15 an hour, plus receive all kinds of benefits including health care. The CEO of Walmart’s makes $11,000 an hour. And the Obamas now have a $35 million dollar estate in Hawaii.
What would Jesus do?
Thank-you, Judith, for a frank and beautiful essay, and to PW readers’ insightful comments as well.
I live on the Canadian prairies, where we are just now emerging from a full 6 months of winter, a winter we are told was the longest/coldest since 1899. Our weather too has become unpredictable and often extreme.
I am surrounded by very conservative farming people; most buy into the agri-biz chemical-based farming, but more are beginning to connect the dots between that and their increasing health problems, the loss of bee, bird, and butterfly populations, etc. Yet those who are beginning to “get it” have a dilemma: the soil is depleted and dependent upon “inputs” (fertilizer, pesticides etc.), commodity prices are volatile and often low, and the banker wants his payments. With all of that, I can’t be too critical of their farming practices.
Global warming is a no-go subject here, especially after this past winter, as many think locally/regionally, not globally. Climate change, or even just “weird weather” can be words to start a conversation, and one must walk softly in order to not be tuned out by a wall of resistance.
Judith, you’re ahead of me on your gardening – part of my main veggie garden is still snow-covered, thanks in part to an April 30 snowstorm, but it’s getting much warmer, and I am so thankful. In the meantime, trays of tomatoes, peppers, herbs etc. live under my growlight, probably until early June set-out – if it’s warm enough.
Canada at present has a corporate-oriented government, bound and determined to extract resources at breakneck pace, including the tar sands, build the Keystone XL pipeline etc., and busily gutting environmental laws to enable all of that, and trashing any science to the contrary.
I’ve learned that my best course of action is to carry on with small conversations here and there among my neighbours, and tend my own gardens. It’s important to know what’s going on “out there”, but it can be crazy-making to fret about things I cannot change.
Happy spring to everyone in the PW community. May we have fair weather – and some rain in California (and other dry areas).
You’re right Jude, Global Extremes might get through to god’s children better than Climate Change or, goddess forbid, Global Warming. The Universe has resorted to speaking to the lowest common denominator as a last resort, and it may get even lower than this before all is said and done. Can’t say the Brothers didn’t warn us, but so sad to see the baby lettuces go. I guess Achilles (at 0 Virgo now) really IS the way to make us aware of our weakest point, huh?
Here’s some food for thought. Maybe Venus, goddess of values, was explaining this, among several other pithy points, when she occulted the Sun last June. She was definitely following the plans set out by powers beyond our mortal selves, maybe Baby Jesus even. I say that because at the moment of the Venus transit to the Sun they both occupied the degree of 15+ Gemini. Way back in November 2008, when Pluto made his final pass into Capricorn, Pallas-Athene, the strategist, was also at 15+ Gemini. Later, these travelers of the sky also made contact with 15+ Gemini:
June 5, 2012 Venus + Sun at 15+ Gemini (good and potent for over 100 years!)
August 5-7, Ceres transited 15+ Gemini
September 5-19, Jupiter (in direct motion)
October 19- Nov 2, Jupiter (retrograde motion)
Nov 6, 2012 when Mercury stationed rx on Election Day, Juno (partnership) was at 15 Sagittarius and opposite 15 Gemini
Dec 21, 2012 – Winter Solstice had Vesta at 15 Gemini retrograde
March 11, 2013 Vesta (direct) at 15 Gemini
April 18, 2013 Jupiter (direct again) final pass over 15 Gemini
Here’s what the Sabian Symbols has to say about this degree:
A WOMAN ACTIVIST (Mother Earth maybe?) IN AN EMOTIONAL SPEECH DRAMATIZING HER CAUSE. Here’s what Dane Rudhyar says about this symbol:
“What has been ‘discovered’ not only needs to be discussed and tested through an intellectual exchange which permits its formulation, it also demands ‘exteriorization’. This implies the act of dealing with those who are still UNAWARE of the new knowledge or realization. A public is needed, and it has to be convinced; its inertial resistance to change has to be overcome. This usually requires an emotional dramatization of the issues at stake.”
Back in 2008 when Pluto came to stay in Capricorn, Juno (at 15 Gemini) was trine Chiron (make aware even if it hurts) in Aquarius, and she squared (challenge) Uranus (make a breakthrough) in Pisces who was retrograde (even if delayed), and she was also quincunx (difficult to adjust to) Venus (values) in Capricorn. One of the powers beyond our mortal selves is symbolized by Pluto I’d say.
Thank you Jude for yet another great essay, and thank you and PW for allowing us to express ourselves on this subject yet again.
be
hange, or goddess forbid, Global Warming
So good to read you article Judith.
In the spring of 2006, Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked George W. Bush “What would Jesus do?” in response to Bush’s war in Iraq. Following the teachings of Christ, if not good clean common sense, would cause one to refrain from raining fire down upon a country that had done nothing to harm us.
Jesus, the ultimate community organizer, was busy feeding the masses with bread and fish, turning water into wine. Before he died he told his followers that they would do even greater things than these. We have proof that the Cosmic Christ is in each one of us; we see it in our own lives on a daily basis.
Times were tough 2000 years ago. However, the weapons we have today are far more powerful and the chemicals used by modern day armies echo for generations as they continue to corrupt the DNA of children yet to be born. If you have not already seen them take a look at photographs on Democracy Now! of the birth defects in Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the drones and dirty bombs dropped by Bush and Obama. They will make you cry and your heart ache.
This spring, we are being called to organize, no question about it. Just as Jesus called his followers to himself, we are being called to follow him as thoughtful human beings, living the life of our potential manifested in spirit. In order to do that we are being called to say “yes” to the things we can be proud of and “NO” to the things we can, under no circumstances, support. One road is full of desecration and disaster and the other is full of opportunity and creative solutions.
There is no gray area that is acceptable anymore, keeping ourselves from taking moral stands on things we know are right and are wrong. Health care, gun control, a minimum wage no one can live on.
We are being called to organize.
Thanks Judith!
I have been going to Tacos El Gordo in San Diego for quite some time and Jesus is indeed here and there… and boy does he make a mean carnitas taco and carne asada burrito. Oops better throw in a veggie burrito once a week! And you know he has never once mentioned problems with the Negro in DC for four more years. Anyway Kiddo– Yes, the smell of smoke on the high winds is wafting this time of year and it seems it has been windier overall in the last year. Water– the battles for control are raging like the winds and the ground is a shaking but NO snowflakes on May Day! I bet you think the few evergreens in your yard in the winter are your ties to the memories of the palm trees swaying and green winter foliage in the Golden State!
I’d like to pass along a link to another of my favorite blogs from Nancy Sommers http://starlightnews.com/wordpress/ I have forwarded her your article and she is a new fan of yours. Hopefully you two dynamos can hook up. We all need the Hope you both provide.
Now how does a Hot burrito sound on the snow shoveling break! Stay warm I am sure you will be under the shady tree by next weekend!
Snow in May – wow! Good for you for planting in containers, Jude. Here in Italy it’s one of the hottest Aprils/early Mays ever, the swallows have arrived several weeks early this year – the sound of summer already in the air, not to mention the heat. I love it when you write about nature, you write so beautifully. Talking of terracing and agriculture in tricky terrain, one of the places they have worked miracles in is Liguria, and I have heard that people from all over the world are turning to them for their expertise and knowledge. This link just gives a brief idea:
http://wanderingliguria.com/?pg=2