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Taylor Marsh has been writing on line since 1996, with the archives provided here a representation of that work.

Tag Archives | environment

Alice Waters Wins

By on 21 March 2009
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So do all the other chefs, farmers and citizens who have long hoped for a real vegetable garden at the White House, as well as people like me and my husband who have made living healthy the centerpiece of our lives.

Ms. Waters talked about her wishes on “60 Minutes” last week, but it has manifested through decades long campaigning to make Americans more aware of what they eat, where they get what they eat, and how it’s prepared. But also what a difference it makes when you eat something fresh, wholesome and nourishing. It not only changes your life, but over time it can stop the doctor’s bills from flooding in, especially if you take hold of the stress levels in your life and refuse to sacrifice quality of life on the altar of ego.

I’ve been into health, nutrition and athleticism my entire life, though the real work exploded when I was around 18 years old. I was desperate to stop my chronic migraines, which took a long time to beat, but I got it done. As an athlete from a very early age, I didn’t start out as a health nut, but that’s where it ended. And yes, it includes a little alcohol in my diet as well, only in moderation. Besides, red wine is good for you!

Consider this a simple salute to the Obamas for heeding the call of the food gurus, which for me has been led by Alice Waters, a champion in the movement. When I finally got the privilege to dine at Chez Panisse in Berkeley it was a thrill for me. The tree that greets you just before entering is a tease for what lies inside.

As for food itself, recipes, spices and all the delicious opportunities to combine creativity into your life in a wholesome way, this past Wednesday’s Washington Post art and living tackled the roast chicken, one of Ina Garten’s favorites, including chicken in a pot, as well as how to carve it for company. Also on the menu was French Lentils.

Eating healthy also isn’t about being a vegetarian, a vegan, not eating meat, or only eating chicken and fish. Of course, keeping away from hormone induced products is important, the price of which also calls for everyone to eat less. Simply stated, you really don’t need as much food as you think you do. But also don’t need to heed the “vegetables only” crowd. Some people enjoy and even must eat red meat. After a life not eating red meat ever, I was actually prescribed very small amounts of red meat by my genius doctor. It was suggested by her during my one woman show production back in 2005. As shocked as I was I was desperate, so I gave it a try. I’ve never felt better, so red meat is part of my healthy menu, though in much smaller portions and in a much higher grade than people normally eat meat. No antibiotics. No growth hormones. Period.

My little tip today is a simple thing. A dried spice my husband recently found that has become one of my favorites: McCormick’s gourmet selection, diced jalapeno peppers. I mince them even further sometimes and add them to all sorts of things. Heat makes so many dishes pop.

It’s a bit beyond my usual political beat, but our food supply is important to consider, as is what we eat and how we live, which includes serious, heart pumping exercise. Whatever that means for your body and the state of your health.

The tragic thing is when you see young people pudgy and fat, which relegates them to a life that will be less well lived. When I pass parents with fat kids I want to shake them for what they’re doing to their lives. It can not be overestimated.

It’s also about our health care system and the simple reality that each of us has a lot more control over our health than we want to admit or want to take responsibility for, which begins with what goes into our mouths, but also how we treat and maintain the body our spirit inhabits.

Obesity is a choice.

So is health and well being.

The focus the Obama White House is putting on health is directly related to health care, which our food supply directly impacts. Here’s to Barack and Michelle Obama for listening to Alice Waters and all the other chefs, farmers and citizens who believe in what they’re doing.

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Why is Obama Talking about ‘Clean Coal’?

By on 28 February 2009

–updated–

Psssst… Hey, Mr. President, there is no such thing as “clean coal.”

It makes the Reality Coalition‘s new ad hilarious, but then it would be. It’s done by the famous Coen brothers. The message is not, but it’s hard to permeate the deniers’ world. Even Obama mentioned “clean coal” in his Tuesday speech. Silly for a man so smart, also a bit embarrassing. It’s not like Al Gore, who is part of the Reality Coalition, doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

… Let’s be clear: there are no US homes, factories, shopping centers or churches powered by coal plants that capture and store their global warming pollution.

Today, coal power plants emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the pollutant causing the climate crisis. A third of the America’s carbon pollution now comes from about 600 coal-fired power plants. And of the more than 70 proposed new coal power plants, barely a handful have plans to capture and store their CO2 emissions. If these dirty plants are allowed to be built, this will mean an additional 200 million tons of global warming pollution will be emitted in America each year. Until coal power plants no longer release CO2 to the atmosphere, coal will remain a major contributor to the climate crisis.

So what’s the deal with President Obama saddling up to “clean coal”?

Sometimes confrontation is required.

Oh, and I almost forgot, on the climate change issue alone we’ve got quite a brouhaha that has bubbled up between environmentalists and George Will. Because of the work of Media Matters and others, including readers, the Post is feeling the heat. Even the ombudsman of the Post was pressured on Will’s latest climate change denier rant, responding in a column which will run tomorrow (but is now online). Senator Kerry’s got a fantastic post up taking on George Will. Like I said, sometimes confrontation is required.

Disclosure: The Reality Coalition is an advertiser on this blog, though no agreement to cover the issue comes with that placement.

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Clinton to China

By on 05 February 2009

Hillary's World
This seems so fitting for her, especially for anyone who remembers her speech when she was first lady. It was a speech that shook the world, all because Hillary Clinton dared to say “women’s rights are human rights.”

Climate is to be a top priority on Secretary Clinton’s first trip, with Japan being the first stop on her Asia trip where economic turmoil will be on the agenda.

From Andrew Revkin of the NY Times on China’s energy focus that includes tackling emissions and greenhouse gases:

As I wrote the other day, it looks like countries are going to remain focused on addressing real-time problems related to energy security (most notably high oil prices) for the time being, even as evidence builds that global warming could fuel turmoil, particularly in already-troubled places like sub-Saharan Africa, in the long run. I ran a panel at a meeting on China, energy, and climate at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, and in the preceding session, Zhou Dadi, one of the leading figures shaping China’s energy and climate policies said energy security will remain China’s top priority for a long while to come. He restated the longstanding mantra from China on climate, saying the responsibility for blunting emissions curves for greenhouse gases will remain with industrialized powers for a long time to come.

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Econ TV

By on 27 January 2009

Rachel Maddow, and David Siroda deliver it above. As for a real look at the Recovery and Reinvestment Act by the CBO, but not the one touted by Republicans that didn’t exist.

We need to maximize Democratic power (aka Obama won). No one gives a crap about how many Republicans sign on to the stimulus package as long as it passes. Note to Republicans: McCain lost and he got a dinner in his honor, which was a terrific gesture from now President Obama, but let’s get this done. Not with the focus on getting tax cuts to appease Republicans, but making certain all this money actually creates jobs and opens up green job opportunities. CNN’s Ed Henry asked Gibbs yesterday what is considered a green job, according to the Administration. The stimulus must lead to the answer of that question seen in results.

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Rev. Robinson’s Prayer Hits the Fan

By on 19 January 2009

The bald eagles didn’t bitch.

Seriously, one of the most moving moments of the event was the moment Challenger, then Mr. Lincoln, both majestic bald eagles, were brought on stage, preceded by military representatives, before Obama made his speech. No one said a word when HBO cut that moment out of the rebroadcast. The bald eagle, symbolism of our beautiful country, the importance of protecting it, as well as the grandeur beyond what is human.

I am evidently one of the very few unmoved that Rev. Robinson’s prayer was also not part of the HBO rebroadcast of Obama’s concert on the mall. …and I’m an Episcopalian.

HBO says it was Obama’s people. But they say no, to the contrary.

“We had always intended and planned for Rt. Rev. Robinson’s invocation to be included in the televised portion of yesterday’s program. We regret the error in executing this plan – but are gratified that hundreds of thousands of people who gathered on the mall heard his eloquent prayer for our nation that was a fitting start to our event.” — PIC communications director Josh Earnest

It was a musical extravaganza. The only prayer required should have been one in honor of the power of the arts. Hoping that they may once again be a larger part of our national identity and spirit. Not just to educate and inspire young and old, but as a reminder of our common creative nature, as well as the redemptive power of music and song.

Instead, the prayer by Rev. Robinson took us into the spiral of bless us with tears… with anger.. etc. as so many prayers do, choosing to remind us all of the hardships of living on the mortal plane. With one exception, that like everyone else, protecting President Obama comes off my lips at my every daily meditation. But for me, Robinson’s prayer was organized religion at its worst. With all the talk about how dire things are today, which no one will doubt, the preacher ignored the lofty purposes of song and jubilation, while forgetting the event his prayer was to kick off. Tone deaf religious importance in the place of exalting the human spirit we were to celebrate through song.

It just proves that gay or straight, organized religious leaders have forgotten the place music plays in the divine, beyond a preachers’s reminder of our daily drudgery. A prayer before a festival of music should set a much different tone. But that’s how far the arts have fallen in America.

Where’s Dr. Wayne Dyer when you need him?

Another point is that we are in the throes of allowing the remarkable ordinariness of the transfer of power in this country to be catapulted into something it should never be. The deification of the presidency itself, the office, but especially the current occupant about to take the oath. Barack Obama is just a man to whom our hopes are pinned, but in whom expectations are now set far too high.

America is “we the people.” Thomas Jefferson would gag.

Why am I coming over all queasy this week? Oh, yes, it must be coronation—sorry, inauguration—week in the federation of the United States. So this is why you booted us out a couple of centuries ago. You simply replaced the pomp and ceremony of hereditary monarchy and with the pomp and ceremony of elected monarchy. [...]

Thank goodness for the day of service.

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Saying Good-bye to Beauties

By on 16 January 2009

The pond still flows, but our friends are gone.

Our fish have been re-gifted to Nevada Water Gardens where quite a few of them began their lives. When Jean and Larry told my husband they’d take our fish it took a huge burden off of us. Not unlike when we found our peacocks a new home. Delivering the fish, everyone was very excited to get our huge koi, but also our beautiful butterflies, as well as an exotic Chinese gold fish and all the other beauties. Mark is the pond genius, and if you’ve never experienced the serenity of running water at your place you really should give it a go. We’ve had 3,500 gallons of cascading water to a very small pond and we love the peace it provides no matter the size.

The details of getting ready to move to Washington, D.C. are in full swing at our place, something that takes a lot of time, especially considering how long my husband has lived here. Very early retirement for him is something I certainly never expected nor asked, but it’s a gift born of trust and faith in our life together, manifested from a promise he made when we met. The adventure has begun.

Lots of news today, so consider this your Friday free for all. No topic off limits or out of bounds. Also wanted to add… that everyone really should take the time to read the posts “In the News.” Comments encouraged. (Writers welcomed to trumpet their posts.)

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Early Bird Open Thread

By on 12 April 2008
Brings back memories…


First year since I’ve been married that we haven’t had peacocks meandering on our property. As regulars around here know, we no longer have our peacock, as well as the peahen and peacock that fathered him. Spring without the squawking and the fights is so… quiet. But this year I can actually have flowers! They used to eat them all. But what a joy and a blessing they were, with memories very sweet. Blue, the father, loved to listen to jazz. He would camp out by the back door to listen for hours. Jack, his son, was a walnut lover. Missy, the peahen, well, we kind of inherited her, because the owners didn’t much care for her. She wasn’t as pretty as the boys in their minds, but I loved her. Stories I did about them include this post, but this one really brought in the emails. We found Jack and Missy a new home last year, with Blue staying with his original “owner” (though you never really own a bird). Soon afterwards a stray showed up, then gave birth to kittens. It’s springtime, so SPAY & NEUTER YOUR ANIMALS. We did exactly that with all six of Tigger’s kittens. Make sure you do the same.

Open thread. What’s happening?

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Obama, Exelon and their Consultant, David Axelrod

By on 02 February 2008

Well isn’t this a cozy little group. The report in the New York Times is alarming. For one thing, you’ve got to wonder why he told a whopper in Iowa when the records are so easily revealed. Of course, to win. But when it concerns radioactive leaks and the protection of citizens, we’re talking about the morality of personal politics and professional ethics. Guess Obama knows the press has been asleep where he’s concerned and counted on that continuing. Oops.

Mr. Obama scolded Exelon and federal regulators for inaction and introduced a bill to require all plant owners to notify state and local authorities immediately of even small leaks. He has boasted of it on the campaign trail, telling a crowd in Iowa in December that it was “the only nuclear legislation that I’ve passed.”

“I just did that last year,” he said, to murmurs of approval.

A close look at the path his legislation took tells a very different story. While he initially fought to advance his bill, even holding up a presidential nomination to try to force a hearing on it, Mr. Obama eventually rewrote it to reflect changes sought by Senate Republicans, Exelon and nuclear regulators. The new bill removed language mandating prompt reporting and simply offered guidance to regulators, whom it charged with addressing the issue of unreported leaks. … ..

– Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate

This is what has bothered me about Obama from the start. The let’s make a deal approach to bipartisanship. I’m all for compromise when it’s required, but the type of stuff the Times talks about today is a problem for Democrats who believe we’ve got better ideas, answers and solutions, and should hold off caving to wingnuts, especially the nuclear industry.

But I guess when you’ve got Exelon, based in Illinois, giving “at least $227,000″ to your U.S. Senate and presidential campaigns, you’ve got to take care of your big biz contributor, including taking the teeth out of legislation, making mandatory reporting voluntary instead. How very convenient for Exelon. Frank M. Clark, executive vice president to Exelon, and John W. Rogers Jr., a director there, are among his largest fund-raisers, according to the Times. John W. Rowe, also an Obama contributor, is chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute, which is — get ready for it — the nuclear power industry’s lobbying group.

Back to what Obama told Iowans:

Those revisions propelled the bill through a crucial committee. But, contrary to Mr. Obama’s comments in Iowa, it ultimately died amid parliamentary wrangling in the full Senate.

“Senator Obama’s staff was sending us copies of the bill to review, and we could see it weakening with each successive draft,” said Joe Cosgrove, a park district director in Will County, Ill., where low-level radioactive runoff had turned up in groundwater. “The teeth were just taken out of it.” … ..

Of David Axelrod:

In addition, Mr. Obama’s chief political strategist, David Axelrod, has worked as a consultant to Exelon. A spokeswoman for Exelon said Mr. Axelrod’s company had helped an Exelon subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison, with communications strategy periodically since 2002, but had no involvement in the leak controversy or other nuclear issues.

So amidst Obama’s defense, which is in the article, what’s the bottom line? For me it’s this:

In interviews over the past two weeks, Obama aides insisted that the revisions did not substantively alter the bill. In fact, it was left drastically different.

In place of the straightforward reporting requirements was new language giving the nuclear commission two years to come up with its own regulations. The bill said that the commission “shall consider” not require immediate public notification, and also take into account the findings of a task force it set up to study the tritium leaks.

By then, the task force had already concluded that “existing reporting requirements for abnormal spills and leaks are at a level that is risk-informed and appropriate.”

The rewritten bill also contained the new wording sought by Exelon making it clear that state and local authorities would have no regulatory oversight of nuclear power plants. … ..

I’m against nuclear energy playing any major role in our energy solutions until we find out what to do with waste. Clinton isn’t strong enough for me on this issue either, but compared to Obama she’s the Mother Teresa of alternative energy. It’s not just because of Yucca Mountain, because soon I’ll be long gone from Nevada. I also think that transporting nuclear waste to a dump site is a terrorist target of lip smacking proportions. So to hear that Obama, who is tied in with Exelon, as was David Axelrod, is willing to lie to Iowans to protect his nuclear baggage, is at the very least troublesome. But to learn about the realities of his legislation and how tight his relationship is to the nuclear power industry, well, it adds yet another let’s make a deal negative on to all the other ones I’ve proven over the last year. It also makes me nervous. It should you too.

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I Love Birds Edition

By on 25 October 2007

Best. Bird. Video. Ever.

As regular readers and listeners know, my husband and I are bird lovers. We had peacocks, including chicks, until just recently, which included some hair raising experiences with them, Missy (the peahen), Blue and their chick, now full grown peacock, Jack. (His albino sister only lived for a few months.) We were also gifted a Cockatiel who was found almost dead, so I appreciate this video a lot. It’s priceless. Send it to someone you know in California. They could use the chuckle cackle!

Lots to talk about.

This is the exchange of the day, as far as I’m concerned.


Linda Gustitus, who is the president of a group called the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, began her question by saying that President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, Michael B. Mukasey (who happens to be an old friend of Mr. Giuliani’s) had “fudged” on the question of whether waterboarding is toture.

Ms. Gustitus said: “He said he didn’t know if waterboarding is torture.”

Mr. Giuliani said: “Well, I’m not sure it is either. I’m not sure it is either. It depends on how it’s done. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it. I think the way it’s been defined in the media, it shouldn’t be done. The way in which they have described it, particularly in the liberal media. So I would say, if that’s the description of it, then I can agree, that it shouldn’t be done. But I have to see what the real description of it is. Because I’ve learned something being in public life as long as I have. And I hate to shock anybody with this, but the newspapers don’t always describe it accurately.” … ..

Rudy doesn’t know the definition of “waterboarding”? It all depends on “how it’s done”? Why doesn’t someone bind ‘Mr. 9/11′ up and give him an up close and personal demonstration of waterboarding. Then he can tell us if it’s torture or not.

Oh, and don’t miss Condi on a spit, provided by the House Oversight Committee. It’s must see YouTube tv.


Chairman Waxman: “I did want to respond to the Secretary’s offer that we have a closed door session to receive testimony from witnesses and to see documents. The problem with that offer is that you will give us information that we cannot make public, because it’s then confidential. I think there are a lot of things that ought to be made public, and one question I would want to know, and I think it ought to be answered publicly. Is money that’s being taken through corruption from the Iraqi government funding the terrorists that are killing our troops? You don’t have to name a source; you don’t have to identify anybody that’s confidential. But we ought to know that information, and I hope you’d answer that question, as we go into a debate about whether we’re going to give another $196 billion dollars to this war.”

Hope you can join me.

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Sunday Bird Watching

By on 26 August 2007
Thanks to reader Katymine for the shot.

As regular readers know, we have peacocks. We raised one of them from a chick, which was quite an experience. Blue, the older male; Missy, the peahen; and Jack the young male, and his albino sister who made it to four months then died. The adventures with our birds were ever evolving. From Thanksgivings, putting Jack in a pen to save his life (Blue tried to kill him several times), to deciding what do you give a peacock for Christmas? Easy. Read the post, you’ll see. Then this spring came the fighting, which at mating season was something to watch.

It makes me a bit wistful to see the shot above today.

Our birds are gone.

Luckily we found a good home for Missy and Jack. We also got to see Jack’s first year with full plume, as well as watch him drop it. Peacocks lose their beautiful train every single season, though the young males do it earlier than the old beauties. Blue remains with his original “owner.” I put that in quotes because you never really own a bird, especially peacocks, and I should know.

It was tough corraling Jack. My husband is a champ. Missy was easier, but it was heart stopping for a while. But they’re happy and free and we’re thrilled.

But there isn’t a day when I meditate that I don’t miss seeing them in my view, or a night at sunset that I don’t think about them; remembering all the nights we watched them fly into the big pines. Teaching Jack to fly into the back pines and not the front. Then there is the other thing: the silence. We no longer
hear the kawwing.

But at least I know they’re free and safe. That’s all that really matters to birds.

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Mothers

By on 13 May 2007
Introducing Tigger and the Tigglettes.


I've talked about this on my radio show lately. It's been quite an experience so far.

We've been adopted by a stray. She showed up pregnant, as we soon learned, so now we've got kittens. We intend to get her fixed, tagged and then keep her around.

Tigger is okay with the peacocks, who haven't met the kittens yet and won't.
As for our indoor cat, Rasha, she hasn't met the kittens (and won't). However, Rasha and Tigger have met. Let's just say it's good Rasha is indoors and Tigger is outdoors.

Another chapter in our animal adventure opens on to some great laughs. The kittens are adorable.

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What Do You Give a Peacock for Christmas?

By on 23 December 2006

CIMG0312

His freedom.

As regular readers know, we have a peacock (Blue) and peahen (Missy) who visit us. Actually they now live at our place, but birds are never really anyone’s, so I like to refer to it as “visiting.” We also have a peacock chick from Blue and Missy whom we’ve raised and kept alive through all manner of challenge and adversity. See, the peacock’s goal when chicks are born is to kill them all, because they’re territorial and the fact that you can’t tell a peacock (male) from a peahen (female) for months. Peacocks are the very definition of alpha male. So, when the chicks hatched, my husband Mark and I fenced off an area for Missy and her two surviving chicks, one of which was an albino that didn’t live past 3 months. Sweet little thing. Very tragic, but she just wasn’t strong enough.

Anyway…

So once it was time to let Missy and her young male chick out of the wire pen, Blue starts stalking the young male peacock. It was a serious case of catch and kill for Blue. One day months later, after Jack had gotten his coloring, I peeked outside the back door to find him trying to hide behind our wood pile, with Blue towering over him ready to strike. I shooed Blue off, but Mark and I then had to make a big decision. What to do with Jack?

To make a very, very long story short, leaving out the first patio open, as well as the pea hen we got from a reserve as a buddy who tried to maim him, I’ll cut to the chase. Mark built a huge pen out back. You should have seen the sight of my husband trying to engage this growing, but still very young, male peacock to capture him! Squawking like you can’t imagine, with tale feathers flying everywhere, not to mention Mark trying to stay away from his very sharp claws.

So now our beautiful, young male peacock was safe. He had plants, sod, a soft bedding to walk on, a pond, with plants everywhere, plus shade and cover, with some sun as well and a nice perch and plenty of food. For instance, Jack began his day with walnuts. Getting the picture? Spoiled peacock.

It didn’t matter.

CIMG0309

With Blue and Missy walking free, the young male was very unhappy. Peacocks can be content penned, but I believe seeing Missy and Blue walk free, as well as sit close to his cage, drove him crazy. When they were up around the house it made it worse. All Jack did was pace. However, he was still too young to fight off Blue.

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago. At a year and one-half, Jack was finally starting to grow his plume, which should be in full glory this summer. He’s an adult, and as I told my radio listeners recently, I looked at my husband and said it was time to let him out. So, we took a deep breath, walked out to his pen and opened the door.

Nothing.

Jack continued to pace.

Mark started tearing down the fencing.

Still nothing.

I tried to draw Jack out with walnuts.

He wouldn’t budge.

Jack continued to pace within the confines of the cage, jumping up to his perch, even though there was no cage left to hold him in.

CIMG0341

We knew to stand back, but Mark got too close and all of a sudden Jack jumped on to the railroad ties then took off with a whoop. Up he went… He’ll land on our second story, I thought. Then up and up and OVER the house he flew.

We rushed to the front yard to see him perched on our neighbor’s roof across the street. Then, as sunset came, Jack took off.

We were crestfallen.

Would he come back?

We waited.

Then two days later Mark woke me up, “He’s back! He’s back!”

I stumbled out of bed and we went running down to the backyard like two kids on Christmas morning. Jack was back and they were all together again. There’s been some territorial issues, but Jack will have to learn to deal with it. Come spring we expect Blue and Jack will fight. That’s what male peacocks do.

Every sunset for the last couple of years, Blue and Missy wonder back over to our neighbor’s house where they were raised to sleep high in the trees. When Jack was young, before we realized the dangers of Blue, he did too. But since we let him out he doesn’t anymore. The first couple of sunsets after he was free I couldn’t figure out where he was perching at night. But then just a couple of days ago I saw him fly up into one of our backyard evergreens close to the house. We’ve never had a peacock call one of our big evergreens home.
We do now.

I’ve had a thing for birds my whole life. But now it’s on a whole different level. Being blessed with this experience has been something almost sacred to me. As I’ve said before, you never really own birds. You have to understand that your attachment is yours and will never be there’s. Get too close or threaten them, breaking the bonds of that trust, and you could lose them for good. Jack is still very leery of Mark. After all, he caught him twice and Jack doesn’t understand we were actually keeping him safe.

Giving Jack his freedom this Christmas gave us great joy. We kept him alive, sheltered him and now he’s on his own, though we still feel responsible. It’s an experience I will treasure the rest of my life, Mark too.

Last Christmas Jack was in his pen, safe and sound.

This year he is grown and now free, as it is meant to be. Merry Christmas, Jack. It’s a Christmas gift for us, too.


TM NOTE: When we moved to D.C., saying good-bye to the glorious gift of our peacocks wasn’t easy. But at least we found them space where they’d be safe… and free, which is what matters most to birds. Same for our beautiful koi, which now reside in gigantic ponds at a water garden, taken from the 3,800 gallon, cascading pond that Mark built from scratch (a beauty truly astounding). What a cherished experience all of these amazing creatures were to care for, watch and share our property. I’ll never forget it… or the Golden Eagle, the hawks, the pheasants, and water birds, and all the other amazing birds that visited the land we owned for a time. It was magical.

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Climate Crisis, and Our Dead Koi

By on 27 June 2006

UPDATE: Pollution in overdrive

It’s been a tough day ’round our house. Our 4,000 gallon cascading pond was
poisoned and we lost six or so of our beautiful koi and one of our poliwags.
It may not seem important to you, but it was traumatic to me. You don’t have to live near a stream to realize the balance
required in nature. We’ve created an amazing Eden we call paradise, which was
disturbed in an alarming way today. We have come down to bug spray as the culprit. We have so many birds, including peacocks, that we have quite a bug problem unless we stay on it. We’ve been careful, but… We’ve been flushing the pond for hours and hours. We are now bathing our wounds
in good wine and fine chocolate.

Seeing Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient
Truth” was powerful, as was speaking
to him. It drove home so many things. Seriously, see the movie. But Gore
isn’t the only Democrat who gets it. John Kerry understands the environment
too, especially when it comes to energy
independence. The Democrats are righteous on the
environment, as I learned meeting
Robert Redford in D.C.

So many people are trying to target Gore by massaging the science to match
their message. Good luck. Science doesn’t lie. Gore got it right.

Now, excuse me, because I need some more chocolate.


The AP contacted more than 100 top climate researchers by e-mail and phone
for their opinion. Among those contacted were vocal skeptics of climate change
theory. Most scientists had not seen the movie, which is in limited release,
or read the book.

But those who have seen it had the same general impression: Gore conveyed
the science correctly; the world is getting hotter and it is a manmade catastrophe-in-the-making
caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

“Excellent,” said William Schlesinger, dean of the Nicholas School
of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University. “He got all the
important material and got it right.”

Robert Corell, chairman of the worldwide Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
group of scientists, read the book and saw Gore give the slideshow presentation
that is woven throughout the documentary.

“I sat there and I’m amazed at how thorough and accurate,” Corell
said. “After the presentation I said, `Al, I’m absolutely blown away.
There’s a lot of details you could get wrong.’ … I could find no error.”

Gore, in an interview with the AP, said he wasn’t surprised “because
I took a lot of care to try to make sure the science was right.”

Scientists
OK Gore’s movie for accuracy

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Meeting Robert Redford at the Apollo Alliance Event

By on 12 June 2006

(posted from Washington, D.C., 11:34 a.m. eastern time)

UPDATE: Robert Redford's speech at TBA.

Okay, so better late than never. I took this earlier, but had to come back to my hotel to load it. Frankly, the Hilton's connection for bloggers row sucks. Oh, and by the way, as to Redford's first line; everyone needed a brush, as it was raining cats and canaries this morning!
“Sorry 'bout that,” Redford said to me when our bags got tangled. All I could do was laugh.

“Anybody have a brush?”

That's the first thing I heard when Redford walked into the room. It was a little after 10:00 a.m. when he and Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance showed up. It was supposed to start at 9:30 a.m., but these types of things rarely if ever come off as planned.

I've been trying to blog it since then, but on bloggers row there's a lot of interruptions and distractions, because people actually are interested in what we do.

The Fox “News” crowd just hate when big celebs lend their name, reputation and passion to issues that matter. But when they do, especially when you're Robert Redford, it can make all the difference. After all, it's not like they need this aggravation, now is it?

They wanted all the bloggers up front during the Redford meeting, especially those with computers, because this meeting was schedule for us. How refreshing is that? Redford continued the welcome, because it was very obvious – he made a point of saying it – that he's a big fan of the blogs.

When Redford started off he didn't go to the podium. He and Jerome sat side by side, with Redford making a very brief opening statement. I live blogged it for content, just now getting it online, but this is how it went down. I don't use quotes, but Redford's statements are close to verbatim, the content
and tone exact.

Robert Redford and Jerome Ringo, president of the Apollo Alliance. (Taken during Bloggers Meeting)

It's like the old west, the blogs. Taking something and running with it, said Robert Redford. Out of the gate he made it clear that he feels the blogs have a big part to play in getting the message on the environment out.

When I met him after the session, he looked in my eyes and shook my hand, strongly and very enthusiastically. In fact, he made an effort to turn and talk with me, however briefly. (Just to add, I'm drawing this picture, not because I saw into his soul, but because his sincerity to connect with me, one blogger, was real. It went to the whole reason he asked for the meeting with us.) I thanked him for what he was intending to manifest through his involvement in the Apollo Alliance, and he said, “No, thank you.” The picture we took together was a generous move on his part, because he wasn't taking pictures with people. (I keep getting disconnected, so I'll upload the shots of Redford when I can.) As it was taken our bags got tangled
and he apologized, which caught him talking and me smiling. We untangled and his handler moved him on a tight schedule doesn't begin to cover it.

In case you don't know what the Apollo Alliance is all about, this should give you a clue.


Why Do We Call It The Apollo Alliance?

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

–President John F. Kennedy

Obviously, with all the work I've done on John F. Kennedy, this organization
has simpatico sensibilities with what I'm doing.

Talking about the Apollo Alliance, Redford was passionate, but soft spoken, mentioning their 10-point solution. An announcement is coming later today on action, evidently. After opening statements, Redford and Ringo took questions.

Regarding the environment and how it was ignored in the 2004 elections:


“It was criminal what happened in the last election … It was pretty rough to sit there in the last election, seeing the issue ignored or shunned.” – Robert Redford

Continuing on, he was asked a question about the media and their coverage on the environment during 2006. The coverage was “down low” … “I'm hopeful,” he said about the next elections going forward.

In one comment that will delight many, Redford said bloggers play a part that the “mainstream media” does not. That's for sure. It's obvious he thought traditional media just doesn't get it.

There was no doubt that Redford believes that bloggers can, should and must play a critical part on the environmental front going global.

Jerome Ringo also announced that the Apollo Alliance met regarding independence meeting with Senators Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

Needless to say, former Vice President Al Gore was mentioned in a big way, as Redford talked about him addressing the issue and the solutions, all revolving around his new movie.

Redford had “some involvement” in Gore's movie, which he believes will have a “positive effect.” Then Redford launched into a brief summation of his involvement in the issue way back in the late 1980s global warming conference with the Soviets. The “solutions were the same back then. No vehicle back then to get the language out,” said Redford.


“As long as the public can see it's bad… here 's why it's bad,” and “here's what you can do.” You need to go the part of the solutions, because the evidence is “in their face.” “Solutions,” is where Redford wants to focus, not just scaring the public to death. The “Al Gore film has ended the debate,” according to Apollo Alliance president with Redford. Al Gore's film was an end and a beginning. It addresses the solutions. We must alternatives to fossil fuel and getting oil from foreign countries. – Robert Redford at Special New Media Meeting

Wind power, solar power and other energy solutions are obviously critical

Ironically, Redford worked in the fields for Standard Oil in El Segundo, California many years ago, as did Jerome Ringo, who is from Louisiana. That's their mutual connection to the passion to become energy independent. So, obviously when asked about Katrina, Ringo said the bottom line was “accountability.”

Of course, what would all this be without mention of impeachment? It was broached over Katrina.

That's when Robert Redford became very animated and leaned out to see who exactly answered the question. Then he smiled broadly and let go with a chuckle.

Check out the Apollo Alliance. We need to back this project.

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A Nature Trip, a Big Discovery, and a Disclosure

By on 07 February 2006

UPDATE (6.25.06): It’s time to update the disclosure portion of this post. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to Robert Redford, when he was in D.C. talking about the Apollo Alliance, and former Vice President Al Gore, during a blogger conference call, just this past Friday. I've also done a lot of research on climate crisis, which has brought me to a point of serious and potentially influential (one can hope) activism on the issue. Until the gas prices spiked just this past spring, I only received a couple of emails about gas prices and the oil industry's role in prices at the pump, as well as global warming. Recently this has changed, partically due to the growing influence of people like Redford and Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” This is an issue that affects all of us, but for me, it personally affects my family.

As I said in the post below in early February, my sister's husband is one of the most powerful oil executives in the world, working for Exxon-Mobil. He is also one of the most honorable people I know. The conflict here, I realize, is perplexing. However, let me also add that if it weren't for my sister and her husband's largesse, there are moments in my life that would have been dangerously desperate.

Recently, I've now come out strongly behind Redford and Gore's environmental efforts, which puts me on a collision course with two people I love very much. Frankly, we don't talk politics very much because to say we are on opposite sides is an understatement. But we especially don't talk about climate crisis, for obvious reasons. That won't change, however, my involvement in the issue has dramatically shifted, as I've told them both just recently. My family and I will find some way to deal with the conflict, because we love one another.

Regardless of the personal outcome and the growing pains that lie within, my course is set and my objective is clear. I'm going to speak out loud and often and help Redford's Apollo Alliance and Al Gore's efforts whenever I can, no-holds-barred. I just wanted it to be clear where I stand.

“A lot of what we provide is information,
but it's their future,” he said. “We are trying to empower them to
be the long-term stewards of their mountain range. Is it going to be difficult?
You bet.” People like Mr. Poole agree. When it comes to new species, he
said: “The challenge is not finding them but working out how to protect
them. When we find them, that's when our job begins, working with the government
to say, 'How can we help you protect these areas?'” New Birds of Paradise, Frogs and Giant Flowers!

Birds are a thing with us. We love them. I've fed birds from city
garden patios for over 25 years. So, when I come upon an article or discovery
in the nature world, I just think it's news, worth talking about and appreciating.
Some of the other pictures in the links here are beyond spectacular. The frogs,
just about everything screams hope, miracle and the reason we want to save our
environment. I think about that a lot every time my husband fires up his 1-ton
truck. It's the most energy friendly truck they make, a diesel, which only has to be smog checked every 2 years, but it is still a gas
guzzler. However, as I said on radio the other day, a hybrid hasn't been built
to haul the things he pulls for his business.

We have been so lazy in our efforts
towards energy transference. It wasn't long ago when the entire country collectively
laughed at Al Gore's statement about getting rid of the combustion engine. Now
James Carville is even talking about nuclear. Okay, but what are you going to
do with the waste? Nevada doesn't want it and Yucca Mountain may have been conceived
and built, but it can't safely house it. Find a solution for that and
then we can talk. Unless, of course, you want nuclear waste in your backyard.

As for the oil industry, I'm stunned I don't get more emails on
the subject, but I don't. I've gotten just a handful over the many years I've
been online. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have a conflict of interest
on oil. My sister's husband is one of the most influential oil executives in
the world, and nothing is more important than honoring my family and two people
who have been more generous to me, in times of deep despair, than anyone. The other thing is that I know this man and I can tell you without reservation or hesitation that he is one of the most scrupulous, honest and hard working individuals in any industry on planet earth. To demonize all oil executives is just wrong and I won't, especially when I know people who are devoted to this country and who also work in big oil. Frankly, I
also get a little nauseated when Americans yell at the oil industry, then fire
up their cars, without a thought or care in the world. Sickened when Americans
elect oil men to the White House twice, while throwing aside the foremost conservationist
politician in the country, Al Gore. If Americans wanted to do something about energy they wouldn't elect oil men. But that said, the profits recently reported
by big oil boggle the mind. I also don't understand and abjectly reject the moral bankruptcy attached to reports that the Exxon Mobil Corp. is fighting the $5
billion jury judgment over the Exxon Valdez. I just don't understand it and never will.

But I digress… This nature story is wonderful and I invite you to take a break from
the insanity to peek into a lost recently found world paradise. And while you're watching thank Dr.
Bruce Beehler, who has devoted the last 25 years to finding a new paradise in
New Guinea. If you have children, please take a trip through the latest nature
finds with them and also visit Conservation
International, the organization that runs the Bronx Zoo. And just wait until
your little person sees the frogs!

As for conservation, there is so much more
we can do and talking about our “addiction to oil” isn't going to
get it done.

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The Birds We Didn’t Eat

By on 26 November 2005
Blue and Missy rule the roost… until Rasha shows up. Then they quietly depart for another part of the patio.

As an original small town girl turned city gal, making friends with birds has become a real treat. But not a treat as in eating them. These are a few of our feathered friends who choose to visit often. The peacock couple belong to our wonderful neighbor and his wife who escaped Cuba many years ago. They have taught us much about peacocks, an amazing breed of bird. The peacock and peahen are Blue and Missy. The bird in the very large pen is their peachick, now adult, named Jack, a perfect name for a peacock, if you ask me. Missy gave birth to an albino chick, but the poor thing died at around 4 months, which was heartbreaking.

Meet Jack, a 16 month old peacock. He’s a big one, too. Much bigger than his dad, Blue. We keep him penned to save his life, but we hope that won’t be forever. He doesn’t like it much, but peacocks can be happy penned if they have enough room. It’s a huge area, which my hubby built. We’re going to put in a pond next year.

Now, I’m sure you’re going to ask, why is Jack in a pen? Well, Blue almost killed him before he was quite 1 year old. Missy also began keeping him away from food, as well as pecking him until he was limping. It wasn’t pretty. Seeing my husband capture Jack was an adventure for the ages. We’d certainly prefer to let Jack roam, but his life was in danger, something he doesn’t understand. After Blue and Missy became so mean to him, Jack simply started to wander to our neighbors, also walking in the streets. Not a good idea. We’ve tried to find him a buddy, but that didn’t work out very well either the first time around. We haven’t given up on that idea, but it hasn’t happened yet. It’s got to be the right age and gender, which is hard to tell at first.

Anyway, just wanted to share a couple of our very good friends. We’ve got quite an ecosystem going here, which also brings some serious predators around. We’ve had golden eagles visit and hawks are a regular around here. You can always tell when the predators are prowling. Blue, Missy and Jack start honking and don’t stop until the predators take their leave, which usually happens when Mark or I show up looking to see what all the fuss is about.

Rasha, the queen of “Paradise,” which is what I’ve named the beautiful peace of property on which my hubby invited me to live with him.

Rasha and the peacocks get along just fine now. She’s our black cat. Our male cat A.L., who has passed, didn’t take to the peacocks too well, though. My husband came down one morning to see A.L. staring face to face with Blue and Missy, his gorgeous tale bushed out as if he’d seen a ghost or a monster. He looked at Mark as if to say, WTF? But Rasha and the peacocks pretty much ignore each other now, unless, of course, the peacocks get inside and starting eating her food. That’s annoying for us all.


This is Mark’s cascading, 4,000 gallon pond, which was created from a former shrub haven. My husband is the greatest surprise of my life, also my greatest gift. After years of research trying to find out all I could about relationships, he’s taught me the most. I never expected to learn about love from a man. That about says it all.

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