Under the watchfull eyes of my friends...

In my absence Mojave county is cleaning up my place, the old gas station in Chloride. Since I never operated it as a gas station and since those who did, have passed away, they call those UST (underground storage tanks) "Orphan Tanks". A couple of yeas ago I signed up for the program, but the county ran out of money. While I was in Chloride they contacted me asking whether I was still interested in getting those UST out. Of course It was a bit scary to have such work done during my absence, but my friends talk (Dori among others) to the good people doing the work, send pictures (Irene, thank you) and all. Since cleaning up the environment is the goal, the soil will be tested for pollution. If it is contaminated they will dig out the polluted soil and replace it with good dirt. I am grateful that I can help cleaning up old contaminations of the past and have a small part of the old mining town unburdened by the past.
Thank you all for helping with this.

Wolves and ranchers

There is a rancher I know, a good person, I even call him my friend, yet... He kills coyotes to protect his cattle, notwithstanding the fact that he says that feral dogs are worse than coyotes and wolves. Predators are beautiful and contribute to a viable ecological system. I don't understand the demonizing of wolves and coyotes. My friend once even shot a coyote from his truck while I was riding 'shotgun' with him. I must admit it made me more distant towards this person. I endorse the wolf protection actions of the Center for Biological Diversity. I also endorse US Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and US Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, with US Rep. Raul Grijalva of New Mexico as a lead sponsor. Right now they are circulating a letter to their colleagues in the US Congress, expressing support for America's wolves still under federal protections, and that those federal protections remain in place. I quote from the Center for Biological Diversity:

As if the persecution and killing of over 1,000 wolves, over the past six months alone, in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Minnesota and Wisconsin, is not enough, the US Fish & Wildlife Service now wants to remove federal protections for wolves in the remaining states where they are still under federal  protection. This unethical, anti-ecology political maneuver includes states that have just a few dozen wolves or none at all! How ridiculous is such a proposal? Why even have an Endangered Species Act if corrupt federal officials or any corrupt state government can declare a persecuted and endangered animal unworthy of protection due to lies, mythology and dirty politics? 

When I first came to Arizona, I used to hear the coyotes every night. Their night song was a reassurance, a connection to all what lives, made the stars shine brighter and the full moon more purposeful. Last year was the first time I didn't even see nor hear a coyote and I miss them bitterly. It just doesn't feel right. Also, I once encountered a red timber wolf near the Colorado river, about four in the afternoon. We looked at each other. I saw his magical brown eyes, he must not have sensed any danger coming from me, so he slowed, glanced back at me and went his way disappearing in the desert. That was however in the early '90's... Yet I can still feel the enchantment thinking about my coyotes and wolf encounters.

Four more years: elections matter!

Being female, mixed background, pro-choice, for GLBT equal rights, convinced that climate change is a danger to the world and worrying about the wars that are still raging, I am glad Barack Obama carried this election. Most people don't vote their interest but their values, which include for me caring, accepting diversity (race, gender, age, migrant groups...), the environment, including energy issues, and social justice, healthcare. So I count myself as part of the democratic coalition which has better visions for our possible futures and did vote my values. I look forward to the President bringing home the troops from Afghanistan so that thee are no more foreign wars to be fought and that we can concentrate on rebuilding what is broken in the USA and be peacemakers and bridge builders in the world. That is my dream and hope for the country: freedom and dignity for all, generous and tolerant, the most diverse nation of the world. Let's all keep reaching.

April snow

The winter had been rather dry, so nobody complained when a pouring rain came down after the Friday evening local fish fry.  The rain danced and played on the tin roof in gentle and hard rhythms.

 Usually spring is nice and friendly. I have picnicked at Lake Mead at Christmas day and at the top of Hualapai mountain the next, with just a shirt and a sweater. Now I try to stop the wind from entering by putting pillows in front of the door
and the words a carpet of snow have become rather literal. Yard art is enhanced by nature. Here a sculpting by Bob Stördahl, putting old rust from the mines to good use.

August 6, the bomb and all things nuclear

On this day it seems wise to think about the dangers of most things nuclear: be it for military use or for the production of energy. The use of nuclear in medicine seems to help people with certain cancers, so that seems ok within our present knowledge.

But throwing a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, an abomination and crime, the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, the Three Mile Island meltdown of the core, Fukushima, all are part and parcel, proof even that nuclear power in human hands turns deadly. So Nuclear energy: no thanks...

The long now

the long now

10.000 years

who can then

read this

understand

the symbol

who knows then

looking

for the cause

of double timing halftime

short selling

of what how log

then still

has to come

now

10.000

years from now

the late burden

of moot mushrooms

and fantasies of fission

we all live

in the halftime

of the long

now -

Nuclear energy no thanks, nuclear bombs and other dirty uranium enriched weaponry, no thanks. Old nuclear plants are kept open longer in Belgium among other countries. Germany takes the lead in decommissioning nuclear plants...

Find the Dutch translation of the poem here.

Desert View: Watchtower at the Grand Canyon

 Ann Coulter not only was responsible for the Museum of Northern Arizona, but also for la Possada in Winslow and the Watchtower at Desert View, on the desert View drive, either from Flagstaff or the visitor center in the Grand Canyon. Her buildings harbor you, make you feel good. Her sense of place and material is wonderful.

 

In the watchtower, and in the other buildings I have seen, she uses strong local materials incorporating all the variations she can find: slate, pebbles, rocks.

Elements of surprise are petroglyphs, natural statues, wood, whatever would give the building  beauty and substance. 

I should have called this post Room with a View. She chooses cut outs, interesting perspectives and even adapts the shape of the windows to the landscape. That is respect for the spirits of the place. Her windows draw you out and immerse  you in the grand beauty of nature.

© sms:foto duisburg/rhein 2011

Picture of the Doel nuclear plant from my living room.
In sorrow for the people who have lost loved ones and all their worldly belongings this poem is dedicated to them.

The long now

the long now

10.000 years

who can then

read this

understand

the symbol

who knows then

looking

for the cause

of double timing halftime

short selling

of what how log

then still

has to come

now

10.000

years from now

the late burden

of moot mushrooms

and fantasies of fission

we all live

in the halftime

of the long

now -

Nuclear energy no thanks

 old nuclear plants are kept open longer in Europe

We should learn from the disaster in Japan

 

Nuclear energy, no thanks

In several countries in Europe, among others Germany and Belgium they are breaking the promise that nuclear plants would be closed. In Germany 'Bibis' 30 years old and the oldest plant in the country will be open for another 8 years. A new report surfaced that there are 80 issues with the plant and About them about seventy are security issues. The protest in Germany is strong. The current government is a right wing disrespecting the poor in their own country and uncaring towards their young citizens. This nuclear plant and its fumes I can see from my apartment.
My contribution is a poem:
The long now

the long now
10.000 years
who can then
read this
understand
the symbol

who knows then
looking
for the cause
of double timing halftime
short selling
of what how log
then still
has to come
now
10.000
years from now
the late burden
of moot mushrooms
and fantasies of fission

we all live
in the halftime
of the long
now -

Nuclear energy no thanks

Beauty and strength

Emile-Antone Bourdelle , architect and sculptor, was student of Rodin and teacher of Giacometti. His Atelier is to be found in the stables of Montparnasse when Montmartre got too expensive. He designed and decorated the 'Theatre des Champs Elysee", Place de l'Alma.


His pre-modern expressionist huge volumes made my hart tremble. The World War horror is well expressed in the screaming heads before Munch. Pain, strength and beauty overwhelming and uplifting.





Through a rainy Paris I ended up at the Trocadero where Anais Nin had an apartment. There international solidarity was
shown the indigenous peoples of Peru defending their land, the Amazon forest against greedy developers of palm groves destroying the forests and livelihood of the Indians. I added my voice: Un peuble unido jamas sara vencido.

Views from the gardens

The Garden of Boboli (Giardino di Boboli) is the more formal of the two, maybe the work is grander: Orchards, Versailles like plantations, huge differences in elevation, buildings housing museums and water.


Of course the police keeps an eye on the place and horses are the only option here. So power to is turned into beauty: a dangerous combination!





The views of the city from the Giardino Bardini however are more stunning.

The garden in the foreground also is more intimate. It is a nice climb to get up there, but the reward is beauty. The prize is vision.

Black Mesa mine

I know the Mohave Generation Station. I also know it has been closed because for years and after many warnings they kept polluting the air along the Colorado river. Lung problems and allergies had risen dramatically in the area. The closing had as a consequence that the Black Mesa Mine was also closed. A good thing but then a coup at Hopi and the last bad deeds of the Bush administration made Peabody the owner of all the coal on Black Mesa whether they mined it or not. Then a petition came which mixed the mine issue with the land settlement issue

In part this petition is timely. And in part it is opportunistic and attempts to attach an old problem to a very real immediate problem. One element of the petition is timely because of the recent approval by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) of Peabody's life of mine (LOM) permit. Linking this immediate concern to the efforts to repeal the Navajo-Hopi Land Settlement Act of 1974 is a bit like mixing apples and oranges.

At least the two issues should be separated into two petitions. It's always best to have a petition deal with one very specific issue. Dual or multi-purpose petitions run the risk of discouraging potential signers because they may embrace one issue while having concerns about one of the other issues on the petition The LOM permit is improper and contrary to the best interests of the tribes, especially the Hopi Tribe. But, the current powers that be at Hopi do not agree with this assessment because they have been, once again, led down a primrose path by Peabody, by OSM, and even by their own General Counsel, Scott Canty. Peabody is and always has been a sinister organization that thrives on exploiting the resources of the tribes and paying very little (in comparison to what they would have to pay off reservation) to the tribes in return.

A former Chief of Staff to one Hopi Chairman and Special Assistant to the most recent Hopi Chairman believes and I quote: that it would have been in the best interest of the tribe to block the LOM, at least until it could be fully and carefully reviewed and understood and presented to the Hopi people. It would seem appropriate for the tribe to take back control of its own natural resources and if it was going to be in the coal business to do it as a competitor of Peabody instead of as a victim. Or, at least it would have been better to gain a negotiating advantage and be able to be competitive...make Peabody compete and pay fair prices for Hopi's coal.

As it stands now, under the LOM, Peabody would control all of Hopi coal and won't have to pay Hopi hardly anything unless they start mining again. They have enough coal at the Kayenta mine to last 20 to 30 years. So, they don't have to mine at Black Mesa again for 2 or 3 decades. That's why it was clear to us that OSM's rushing of the LOM was only to get this in under the wire before the Obama administration took over.

The petition attached to the email is a misleading and opportunistic attempt to combine two issues. It distorts and/or distracts from the potential serious impacts of allowing the LOM to survive so they can promote the repeal of the settlement act. Yes, it is important to "REVERSE THE DOI/OSM DECISION TO GRANT PEABODY COAL A LIFE OF MINE PERMIT ON BLACK MESA" but I don't agree that this is directly connected to "THE METHODS OF GENOCIDE BY POPULATION REMOVAL AND COAL MINING EXPANSIONS" or that it is justification for reviving the plea for the "REPEALTHE NAVAJO-HOPI LAND SETTLEMENT ACT OF 1974 P.L. 93-531)."

They've mixed apples and oranges. They should separate the issues. For one thing, since the closure of the Mohave Generating Station a few years ago, the mining at Black Mesa has, to the best of my knowledge, stopped. Granted, the LOM would incorporate the unpermitted Black Mesa Mine into the permitted Kayenta Mine and thus authorize the re-opening of the Black Mesa Mine...that is if Peabody can find a customer for the Black Mesa coal.

I will not deny, however, that there always has been and remains a direct connection between Peabody's dominance and control on Black Mesa and the plight of the people at Big Mountain. The entire fiasco for the last 150 years has been all about exploiting natural resources on Black Mesa. And it remains today as a great cause of the factionalism in Hopi tribal politics. Peabody must go.

Anyway, it's very complicated and the Black Mesa Project Environmental Impact Statement is an 800 page highly technical document that no normal person, including the tribal council representatives, can understand. It was railroaded through by OSM with the support of the tribe's General Counsel, the Hopi Energy Team, and their consultant/hack. OSM steadfastly ignored the pleas of the Chairman of the Tribe to delay a decision. They repeatedly claimed they had appropriately consulted with the "Tribe" by virtue of "consulting" with the Energy Team's paid consultant who was NOT an official of the Tribe and who was marching to the drum beat of Scott Canty and the Energy Team. There has never been an official position taken formally by the Tribal Council as a legislative body, only by the General Counsel, their consultant, and individual members of the Energy Team.

So, if the LOM is left to stand as is, the tribe has just had all rights to their coal stripped from them forever with no assurances of this sell-out even generating any real revenue.

Once again the Bush administration pushed through another 11th hour project for the singular purpose of fattening Big Energy at the expense of the tribes.

There are current actions being taken in federal court, evidentiary hearings being scheduled, etc., in an orchestrated attempt to reverse the LOM. So, we have to hold our breath until 2010.

And remember, there is no such thing as "clean coal."

Trail design

A new trail is born. Ichyfoot in the blue jacket found the place, cajoled with the authorities, got permission and designed the trail with small flags on this alluvial fan. That means that all kinds of material washed down the mountains leaving granite outcroppings. Spanish dagger (Yucca), creosote, red barrel cactus, cholla, Mormon tea... typical desert plants can be found in this pleasant part of the desert. I think this kind of initiative to protect the land is just wonderful. Thanks for the small canyon...

Skies

I wrote I was a arriving in a country with a new dawn. Jetlagged I have been waking up in the dark of night, checking on the progress of the stars dancing their circle around us. I like the gray of dawn, but I noticed that before that moment of the suggestion of light, the blackness seems to be charged. I cannot see a change but the announcement has been made. New energy seems to flow. That is the black of dawn. It ends with the white of dawn where everything is washed in a clean white light without color and then comes the magical moment when the east has a suggestion of color and then there is blue... followed by wild skies during the day. Glorious desert.

Birthed from Scorched Hearts

Birthed from Scorched Hearts Women respond to War was compiled and edited by MariJo Moore. She produced an important, powerful book. 54 women from all over he world have sent in their words, their feelings, their insights, their stories. Some give courage, some are heart wrenching, some are wise. Reading the book I learned about old, historic violence beginning with Medusa and the daughters of Celtic Boudica. We learn about massacres and forgotten people, the plight of indigenous peoples in the USA and in the rest of the world. The chronology then brings WW I and WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, followed by the protesters and peace workers. I am moved, humbled by the creativity and life lessons of these women. I like the historic fiction by MariJo Moore writing about Creek War and the Indian boy Andrew Jackson took home. MariJo imagines the mother’s tale about her lost boy’s life. Great. Then another important piece is by Rebecca Bevins Faery about Vietnam and the repackaging now of Nam as a tourist destination. She was married to a soldier in that war and was a peace activist. It deeply resounded in me as it was my first confrontation with war and as a consequence peace work. I should mention Laura Tohe’s testimony about her brother. Molly Mc Glennen writes about Native American women’s poetry and the reinterpretation of war: insightful and moving. We need to understand creative expression as sacred and to acknowledge the continuum among the speaker, writer, reader, listener, creative spirit and the word. Doing so, your writing will have political implications. Your love flowing out can change the world.

The rolls royce of bikes

As a present to myself, and in order to minimize my ecological footprint, I got a lightweight Brompton. It looks cool is sturdy and weighs about 20 pounds, just under 10 kilo. The practice run, after years of walking and driving, was fun. A heavy duty convinced cyclist in front and my daughter seemingly protecting her toddler from the dangerous traffic. I was astonished that after just a few minutes I felt at ease again on cycle and had good fun, wearing myself out. Then I cycled with Spookie who made me aware of the pitfall and then I started to do short runs on my own, braving the city traffic. And yes I got saddle sore and still need a bit more practice in the folding. No it is not me you see...

The continental divide

Planing the wood, putting down the boards to complete my kitchen floor and having varnished and resanded the floor twice, gave me a lot of time to think and meditate about the post convention state of the USA. I am sad, full of melancholy for this country, which feels like a continent divided.
The Rep's came out with the most conservative, evangelical right platform ever, with open disdain and scorn for the Dem's. I felt the Obama speech was unifying, bringing people together, addressing their needs and how to deal with aliviating their burdens. The other side spoke about the contenders, portraying one as a hero, fit to be a leader even if there is no program and the other as one every footbalmam in the every small town can relate to... Drill, baby drill's points of view are so extreme in what they call pro-life that they would prefer to let a mother die to save a child, in the process taking away a spouse and a mother of prior children. What repulses me most is the constant use of the phrase 'Evil'. As if we do not have good and bad tendencies within ourself, as if 'evil' is an outside force. Naming something evil, puts one in the camp of the 'good' and seems to allow all means to destroy it. That to me is not a state of law: prisoners have civil rights, pro-life to me means ending the war, the illigal occupation, ending the silence about the bodybags coming home to grieving families. What do you dream about Mr President? Do you see other futures besides destruction, death and anhilation? I have always advocated non-violence and non-violent conflict resolution. That will lead to more understanding and unity and hapiness. Troops home now.

Bat cave

Arizona skies at Guano point define width and depth.
Out of the bat cave guano was gathered and the steel structure let people down and filled wagons up.





The river is the Colorado, running red, because of the rains upstream. Technically at this point you are out of the Grand Canyon Park, yet the natural phenomenon is bigger than the park.


I never could comprehend the vastness of it all. Yet I have seen the canyon at different places and altitudes, slowly I am beginning to get a feel for the changing colors and the overwhelming ever changing majesty.

Long lonely roads

Loving the long lonely highways and byways, I still need to keep up with the ways of the world. It is clear now: where the democratic convention was critical but unifying the choice of Sarah Palin as VP is polarizing to society in general. The result of the elections will tell us which world view will prevail. She is a hunter, a hockeymam, against abortion, even in case of rape and incest, she is for big oil and drilling in Alaska. She should be more aware of climate change, seeing what is happening with the polar bears. I listen and hear the same words being spoken over and over again and their meening seems fluctuating. Helping working families means to her helping the large corporations and believing it will trickle down... It doesn't work. She may be a Governeror but she is not a compassionate towards women and their lives and choices. Her worldview seems coherent if you operate within her premisses. The premisses are not mine... I am for compassionate empowerment of all.

Change

Bill Richardson from New Mexico warmed up the crowd. Al Gore delivered an insightful speech, passionate whenever he dealt with climate change followed by 6 normal people, not involved in politics, spoke about their life. It was moving and powerful to hear them explain why their life's events had lead them to work for Obama. The promise to our children is that each of us can make what they want of themselves. The dream is that this would be an opportunity for each of us and that the next generations can pursue their dreams as well. Obama impersonates the American dream. His speech was clear, tough, to the point, 37 practical points of what he would do. Among others give a tax break to 95 % working families instead of to the big oil companies. In the ownership society if you are down on your luck ' you are on your own'. Barack Obama promised to end oil dependency in 10 years using solar, wind, alternative energy and clean coal technology, caps and trade, clean cars build in America. That would create 5.000.000 new well paid jobs. Health care for all, more teachers better paid, equal pay for an equal day's work. He finds the money closing corporate loopholes, by scrapping non working programs. He would end the occupation in a responsible way. That seems to me a code word for leaving two battalions and a gradual withdrawal. His plan is better than staying an other 100 years the other candidate would do. He advocates diplomacy but showed democrat have well defended the country in the past. He has the support of many admirals and starstudded generals. We wake up at the dawn of a multicultural future, with responsibility for ourselves and for all that lives. Yes we are our brothers and sisters keepers: all should be able to marry or have a civil union as they wish, all should have high standard education, and their civil rights respected. Yes we need change, yes we can!

Unity

While planing old reclaimed wooden floorboards and repainting my backdoor, I was contemplating, meditating on last nights speeches. It was foreign policy night and Bill Clinton would have preferred to speak about economics and healthcare. His reception was overwhelming and yes I plead guilty of liking the Clinton family. He spoke statesmanlike, making his audience sit up and listen. They paid attention to his thoughtful speech, explaining in simple, clear terms what is at stake. It was a good day for unity. At the roll call votes when New York came up, Hillary stopped the voting and moved that Obama be nominated by acclamation. Great gesture with dignity for all in it. And then later in the evening Bill gave his full support to Obama and pledged that all three of Clinons would campaign because we cannot have four more years of the same. The VP Joe Biden was good, he appeals to working class people, to the troops, his son is leaving for Iraq in October... Yet as a pacifist I have my doubts. Buch's legacy of reckless acts of invasion and occupation don't seem to be ending soon. I hope that Bill's words will come true that the standing of the US in the world will be restaured and that once again the US will lead by the power of their example (civil rights, state of law, no torture, healthcare for all, good education, multilateralism, green energy, leading against climate change, no privateering, nor mercenaries.......) rather than by the example of their power. My hope for change is equality, humanity and cohesion with the world. Empowering all that are powerless. A compassionate government could make Martin Luhter King's dreams come true. One step at a time we are getting there if we can stay away from the fear rethoric. And yes, I will vote and support Obama: No Mc Cain. Give me a 47 year old president dreaming of the desirable futures for his great-grandchildren, and maybe that way we'll get somewhere good.