Will there be trees left to hug?

Jadav Payeng in his forest.

For years, environmental activists have been referred to as "tree huggers" (which, for most of us, is fine), but the term is definitely intended as some sort of insult.

So when I read this story about a man named Jadav Payeng who has spent his life planting a forest..with his bare hands...an entire forest of over 1,300 acres, I think, "That's a real tree-hugger."

We all don't have time, resources, and space to plant forests with our bare hands, but what we can do is do our part to make changes in our lifestyles and to get involved in local environmental causes.

Here are ideas at home:
1) Reduce, reuse, recycle. Find out where your local recycling center is and use it. If your city has curbside pick-up, even better!
2) Conserve...water, electricity, paper, plastic..whatever you can possibly do to reduce, do it. Not only will your utility bills lower, your carbon footprint will shrink.
3) Bike, walk, go on horseback, whatever you can do to avoid driving. If you can walk there, do it.
4) Raise your children to be mindful conservationists and environmentalists. Children mimic what they see, so be a good example for them. One year, after a parade in Norfolk, my kids and I were horrified at the trash on the ground, so we stayed after the people left and cleaned off one city block. They were all wearing gloves, so I tossed the gloves in the wash when we got home to rid them of the germs, but it made an impact on them and they still talk about it to this day. BE the change you want to see in the world!

So if you're already doing this and more at home and are looking for ways to get involved on a larger scale, here's a list of national volunteering opportunities for environmental causes:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/learn/whatvol/env/
http://www.unitedplanet.org/environmental-volunteer-abroad
http://www.togethergreen.org/volunteer?timespan=current
http://www.nature.org/greenliving/volunteer/index.htm

And as always, look for local resources...here in the Charlotte area, there's the NC Wildlife Federation:
http://ncwf.org/localaction/index.php, and HandsOn Charlotte: http://www.handsoncharlotte.org/.

If you think one day of volunteering can't do much in the grand scheme of things, imagine if no one did.

No one.

Go. Make a difference.

~m

Supporting local farmers, businesses, and community...

Around the southeast, starved "clean eaters" are rejoicing over the seasonal openings of their local farm markets. It's reached the local market here in SC! This Thursday, from 5-8, the Rock Hill Old Town Market will be having its season opening, complete with live music, kids' activities, etc.


Here's the link: Old Town Market Grand Season Opening

When you support local business, you support cleaner living and the growth of local economy, not to mention helping your neighbors by keeping farms, dairies, and artisan craftsmanship alive and well.

~m

Homeless vets...what's the solution?

Saw this video with brief interviews with homeless veterans on the street.

We have men coming home, suffering with crippling PTSD (and that's if they don't have a physical disability), facing a shaky economy and widespread unemployment, and some wonder why there are homeless veterans?

It's hard to find a job in this economy in the best of scenarios: you have a little in savings, you have a car to get to interviews, you have a home, shower, clean clothes. What are your chances without all of that?

Most veterans do OK when they receive their honorable discharge. They find a job pretty quickly and they use their military career as a launch pad. But many don't. They struggle to function outside a combat zone, much less find gainful employment. Those are the ones who need the extra help, a boost to make their transition successful.

It's not called a handout...last time I checked, these guys were getting shot at for our nation. The least our nation can do is give them the respect of a decent segway to civilian life with proper medical and psychiatric treatment and housing options for those struggling.

If you want to get involved or find out how you can help, or if you are a veteran struggling with housing issues, here are a list of resources:

http://www.usvetsinc.org/adopt-a-room/
http://www.nchv.org/
http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/fact/Homeless_veterans_fs04.htm
http://www.supporthomelessveterans.org/

It's not the home of the brave until all of our brave have homes.

~m

PTSD claims another...

A young man (I guess I can still call people my age "young"), fellow alum of AJHS, succumbed to  PTSD. I struggle to comprehend his pain and my soul weeps to think of it.

I don't have words right now, so I'll turn to a piece of writing by those much greater than I: Walt Whitman with his "Adieu to a Soldier".  I hope my readers take these words in with a state of meditative reception, contemplation, and levity.

God rest your soul, Will, and those of all the young soldiers whose most private of battles couldn't be won.

Please consider supporting organizations like Stop Soldier Suicide , Returning Veterans Project, and The Soldiers Project and help heal our warriors who can't heal themselves.  And always, always, reach out to the soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and veterans in your life, check on them, encourage them, listen to them, and be a part of the solution.

~m

Adieu to a Soldier ~ Walt Whitman
ADIEU, O soldier!
You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,)
The rapid march, the life of the camp,
The hot contention of opposing fronts--the long manoeuver,
Red battles with their slaughter,--the stimulus--the strong, terrific
game,
Spell of all brave and manly hearts--the trains of Time through you,
and like of you, all fill'd,
With war, and war's expression.

Adieu, dear comrade!
Your mission is fulfill'd--but I, more warlike,
Myself, and this contentious soul of mine, 10
Still on our own campaigning bound,
Through untried roads, with ambushes, opponents lined,
Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis--often baffled,
Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out--aye here,
To fiercer, weightier battles give expression.