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Woke

“WOKE a consciousness of the world around you…” …recognizing it in all its iterations and embracing it as an agent of progressive change.

First -- yes, get vaccinated -- but as the recent January/February 2021article in the the AARP Bulletin plainly states, "...the vaccine itself doesn't prevent you from getting the virus; it simply prepares your body to mount a vigorous defense so that if you do become infected, the resulting illness is far less likely to be life-threatening." The Covid-19 vaccines are not a cure. They do not protect you from getting or spreading the virus. Even when you get the vaccination you still may be infectious, "...because up to 10 percent of vaccinated individuals will not be protected from getting Covid-19 and because reinfection, while uncommon, can still occur". You can still spread the virus and infect people who are not vaccinated and possibly some who are -- and even get reinfected yourself. No. There is no going back to "normal". Even after vaccination we all must still wear a mask, social distance and stay apart from others whenever possible. Until 80 p

More hurricanes. More viruses.

It is by far the worst hurricane season on record. During 2019 we had 18 named storms including 6 hurricanes. This year the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is tracking to be the most active hurricane season on record and it’s not over yet. To date it looks like 30 namesake storms including 14 hurricanes. It is well recognized that our fossil fuel burning and human encroachment is wreaking havoc with our ecosystems across the planet. What we need to face also now is that ecosystem disruptions are also wreaking havoc on our health. As we struggle with the Covid19 today we must also face the facts that we are enabling more zoonotic spillover of viruses to jump from animals to humans as we impact natural habitats without regard for the consequences. As more hurricanes are the result of our activities as humans heating up the oceans. More viruses will emerge as a result of our encroachment on more and more natural habitats and the destruction ecosystems that once created a buffer zone that p

COVID-19 Pandemic: What is to blame?

On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day our mastery over the earth and its species has earned us something quite different than we were expecting. How did this happen? A bat in China bites a wildlife animal? Sells at a market. Infects someone. Pandemic. “In any case, researchers agree that the coronavirus jumped from an animal to a human, a phenomenon known as "zoonotic spillover." As we struggle to meet this pandemic we must not ignore this “spillover” factor and what caused it. We defend human rights but what of the rights of Nature, wild animals, natural habitats and our surrounding environment? In a Lancet Journal article experts cited, “...scientific evidence that support the theory that "overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens”. It is not surprising then that a UC Davis study of animal species that host viruses known to infect humans found, “The exploitation of wildlife increases the risk of ani

COVID-19: What is our National Social Responsibility?

The “Social Distancing” that will get us through this health crisis needs “Socially Responsible” economic counterparts that establish new ways for us to live, work, learn and care for one another and this planet. “Nothing should go back to normal. Normal wasn’t working.” (Instagram March 2020) The COVID-19 health crisis that we are in the early stages of has all the signs of plunging us into an economic depression worse than the Great Depression while stripping bare the priorities and inequities of our current economic system. During the Great Depression 1929-1939 the highest rate of U.S. unemployment was 24.9%. In March 2020 unemployment swelled to 10 million in two weeks. The Fed went further saying that, “Coronavirus job losses could total 47 million, unemployment rate may hit 32%”. Recently The New York Times Editorial Board asked: “Why is America Choosing Mass Unemployment?” “A number of European countries, after similarly failing to control the spread of the virus, and t

The Lightness of the Spheres

In a dream The world is suddenly darker. The view is of a vast seemingly empty space stretching to infinity. Inquiring figures seek to enter asking why. Something powerful challenges their entry. Pawing them Hands running over and under their clothes Touching them Grabbing them all over. Pulling down their attire. But garments newly torn or removed Reassemble Rearrange Are restored. Injuries Once raw Heal. Scars Ugly reminders Fade away. The Inquiring figures are whole once more. Remade. Now seen within this vast space are Other figures They have their arms full of spheres of different dark shades and patterns. The Inquiring figures say to these Others that you are weighing down the World by holding on to so many darkly shaded patterned spheres. But the Other figures reply As they balance in their arms their darkly shaded patterned spheres They have the right to hold on to what they want. To listen to who they choose To believe w