Saturday, July 3, 2010

July 2010 E-News

Quote of the Month

"The steady buzzzzzzz of the Katydid chorus,
the bass solo of the croaking Frog,
the steady woof-woof-woof a barking Dog -
a summer night's serenade."
- Michael P. Garofalo, Cuttings


Blog by Rex

I’m sickened by this ongoing BP disaster. We all are. The poor people, the pelicans, the wetlands, the water and sand. It feels worse than the Valdez spill because it is worse, a hundred times worse and counting.

I’ve gotten mail asking why I haven’t addressed this topic. My first thoughts were, this is way too depressing and what difference would it make anyway? In the light of day, today, all that comes to mind is we all need to band together on this and not shirk our individual responsibilities either: being more mindful of our planet, better informed, and more than ever before, working with our elected officials on these matters. Life on earth. We’re all in this together including the oil companies.

We obviously need oil and its byproducts now but we can all do better conserving it and asking our lawmakers to do a better job in regulating its manufacturing. To this end I believe there is some progress being made. Still, I’m disappointed in our president’s response to this ongoing disaster, especially after the lessons of Katrina, and for not using this as a call to arms for congress to assist the private sector in developing sustainable renewable energy sources. If not now then when? In spite of the anguish, the depression and dread, this is a golden opportunity to renew our resolve for a safer cleaner future while creating new and inspiring jobs for our staggering economy. However, I hate the prospect of more nuclear power plants. Please say no to this shortsighted and dangerous policy but yes to wind, tide and solar energy. It’s our only real chance for survival on dear mother earth.

I started thinking about a song lyric I wrote back in the early 80s. It’s startling to me how prophetic it was but we had similar ecological and economic concerns back then as well. It’ll only get worse if we don’t get involved now.

What Would The Indians Say

WELL WE DUMP ALL OUR JUNK IN THE OCEANS
FUNK UP OUR RIVERS AND LAKES
WHILE WE SPEAK ABOUT LOVE AND DEVOTION
I WONDER WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

THERE’S GONNA BE FIRE ON THE WATER
AN AWESOME PRICE TO PAY
WE BETTER HOPE OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS
HEAR WHAT THE INDIANS SAY

WE DO RESEARCH ON EARTH’S LITTLE CREATURES
BLIND THEM WITH COSMETIC SPRAYS
WHILE WE GAWK AT THE BLONDES IN THE BLEACHERS
I WONDER WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

CHORUS

WELL THE TV KEEP PUSHING ITS PICTURE
TIME IT KEEP TICKING AWAY….
WHILE THE RICH KEEP THE RICH KEEPING RICHER
SO TELL ME WHAT WOULD THE INDIANS SAY?

1 comment:

Maureen in CT said...

Well said, Rex. Thank you for your thought-provoking and heartfelt words. Even now, with the cap apparently still blocking the oil, I cringe every time I think of the devastation to the Gulf area ecosystem. I feel powerless to do other than what I have been doing over the years - recycle everything I can think of, use my clothesline every chance I get all year round, don't run the water while brushing my teeth, turn off all lights not being used, etc. Haven't been able to find a workaround for my car -- yet. Thank you and Neal for your music, too. I've been a fan since your very first album.