Climate Change

Our culture seems to struggle with earth issues. On Dec 2, 2021 Wolf Angel posted a couple of pictures of the 300 year old “gap tree” at Hadrian’s wall in the UK. Thursday a 16 year old boy cut the tree down in an act of senseless vandalism. I’m not an Indian, but many of my friends here in the PNW are. I’ve always been in awe of their connection to the earth and wisdom about spiritual matters.

 

Nice job, mom and dad....

 

I was kinda stranded in nw new mex, during the gold king mine spill. This brought terrible chemicals down from the rockies allway to colo rvr. Dine-navajo lands were rite in path of it. Hardly ever spoken of then, & certainly not now. Aug of '15, i think. I'll leave it up to y'all, to google it. I can't with this flipfone.

 

Proud and ancient blood are within you for certain; that is truly a magnificent heritage!

I have long, long been interested and fascinated by Native American culture; there is so much that we, today, can learn from these proud and ancient peoples.

As an "armchair astronomer" and, as someone who had always been greatly fascinated by wildlife, I have always taken to heart the many Native American legends dealing with the Sun, the Moon, the Universe, and wolves, which, I know have long been held in high regard and respect by Native American peoples.

One of things I have always found sobering (to say the least) is how the Native Americans have been almost extermined, compared to how populace the many tribes were across this country, centuries ago.

My mother (RIP) was of the same feelings as I; the Native Americans were here long, long before any our ancestors who arrived from Europe.

Mom was born in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania in 1917, and was very familiar with nearby towns whose names were indeed of Native American origin, such as Plymouth, Nanticoke, Shickshinny, and San Souci.

Being a lifelong New Jersey resident (since 1957) I have always found the Lenape people especially interesting.

In fact, the old Lackawanna Railroad, many years ago, gave its new Pullman cars Native-American names in the late 1940's, reflecting the rich Native American history of the areas where their passenger trains then ran.

The old Santa Fe Railroad was very much fascinated with Native American culture and history, and this was reflected not only in the majestic paint that decorated their passenger engines, which reflected the beautiful, stately, and handsome colors of the ceremonial headdresses of Native American chiefs.

Many of the cars featured interior decor inspired by Native American art; works of great dignity and beauty, all.

Getting back to the weather, I've read many old Native American poems and sayings regarding virtually all aspects of weather; here again, their powerful "connection" and respect for their enviroment is so clearly defined, and is to be greatly admired and respected by the people of today........

 

Here is some interesting reading...........

Weather lore - Wikipedia

 

EXCELLENT (and most educational) reading.............

Mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas - Wikipedia

 

Sad......and heartbreaking.

Sadly, we are seeing far too much of such senseless, mindless vandalism today, with no fear of reprecussions, and no sense of shame.......

 

Just south of my hometown --Lemoore , California --lives a tribe of Tachi native Americans. When I was a youngin' in the 40s -50s growing up there , the tribe was extremely poverty stricken. The res was run down and I even saw some folks driving their car through town with NO TIRES--just rims.!! That was the case after the white man ( including my ancestors) came and settled the land and the Tachis were put on the reservation. Cut to the 20000s-----they now have a casino and make the big bucks. Plenty of money for each family every week. Of course they were fine and living a good life way back in the day when they lived around Tulare lake and fished and hunted elk, deer, antelope and lived in the old ways.

 

Remember how,many years ago, kids played "cowboys and Indians"?(I never did)

You would also hear "redskin", "injun", "paleface",etc., used with great frequency.

Thanks to my mother, I learned at an early age, at just how ingenious and enterprising Native Americans were/area.

Their folklore, rich and diverse, has always greatly intrigued me.

While on this subject, read of the later actor Larry Sellers, who was beyond outstanding in his role as "Cloud Dancing", in the highly-acclaimed 1990's drama series, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman".

He was also the technical advisor on Native American life and traditions for the show.

He presented the Cheyenne in Colorado,during the 1870's and early 1880's (in real life, he was Osage)

His character was rich with Native American lore and traditions........

Larry Sellers - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osage_Nation

 

Interesting reading:

Effects of climate change - Wikipedia

 

That would be Climate Change that’s responsible

 

That commercial helped to fuel the environmental movement in the 70's. It was easier then, since the problems--the litter, unbreatheable air, flaming rivers, oil spills, etc.--were conspicuous and verifiable with the naked eye or nostril. Climate change is something we need to trust the experts on, and obviously there is a problem, since many folks don't, and very rich and powerful fossil fuel companies have a vested interest in keeping it that way. I've got a tear tricking out of my eye too, when I see how easily people get sucked into conspiracy theories that make the Illuminati and the lizard people seem more real--despite NASA, the IPCC, and the other climate scientists.

 

Why do you consider “trusting the experts” to be a useful strategy? Why do you blindly trust other people without verifying things for yourself empirically?

 

Why do people trust BP. Shell, Amazon, and DT before they trust science based information? Anti Vaxers, gun nuts and right wingers seem to embrace a political party that has a proven record of throwing everyone under the bus but the rich. Go figure.

 

It’s called The Right cuz it’s…well…right.

 

More like self righteous!

 

Because I can't. I like to think of myself as basically competent, but checking polar icecap melts; measuring CO2, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide, and (N2O) emissions; and checking temperature records and readings over the past century or so is outside my areas of competence. Same with verifying moon landings, the shape of the earth, etc. I do trust my experience, reason, ability to assess evidence, horse sense, and intuition to judge who to buy or not to buy a used car from. I generally don't trust the fossil fuels industry, with a vested interest in discrediting climate change and a track record of disseminating false or misleading info on the subject. Also, I don't trust folks who recommend the likes of David Icke and Mark Passio; those who are into the doings of the Illuminati and the Lizard People (unless they have actual verifiable evidence, which they never do); those who have received great cosmic insights from an acid trip; and people who are gullible enough to believe them. What do they know? They seem to be charlatans or nutjobs.
How to Spot Fake News - FactCheck.org
https://www.npr.org/2016/12/11/505154631/a-finders-guide-to-facts
How to Spot Fake News and Fact-Check the Internet
How to talk to conspiracy theorists—and still be kind
I've been talking to conspiracy theorists for 20 years – here are my six rules of engagement
Fake or fact: how to recognise a conspiracy theory

 

Wrong!

 

Think about it............

For many years, climate change/global warming was thought, by far too many, as being "science fiction" at best, and the "hysterical babbling" of pro-ecology "fanatics", at worst.

For anyone to doubt that global warming is not "just a passing phase" has to be living under a rock, for certain.

It is also interesting, in a "back to the future" moment, that we are hearing more and more about electric vehicles of all types,gradually replacing vehicles fuel by gas and diesel.

Electric vehicles are certainly NOTHING new.

What about trolleys?

And trolleybuses?

Electric autos?(such as the famed "Baker" electric)

London had a bus company in the 1900's, "ELECTROBUS", which operated battery-powered double-decker buses for some years.

Steam-powered buses also operated in London into the early 1920's (recall, also, the famed "Stanley Steamer" auto?)

In the 1970's, GM was experimenting with steam turbine -powered transit buses in California.

What can we learn from the past, today, in 2023?

I believe we can learn a great deal, if we will only listen to voices(and experiences) of the past................