I was reading an article written by Dennis Kucinich this morning, he was discussing how this is a perfect opportunity for the public to take the Gulf oil spill and turn it from an ecological disaster into a domino effect of green ideals and sustainability. He's right, for too long we sit back and hope that something will change, or our voices will be heard. But, as we speak more permits have been issued for more offshore drilling, even in light of this incident.

It's clear government and the energy industry are more concerned with personal profit and continuing our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. But, regardless of the fact the BP and the government have been slow to fix the spill and ignorant to the severity of the damage done to ecosystems and coastal communities, we as consumers and the public are also to blame. If it wasn’t for our standard of living and our consumption rates (Americans consume 25% of world’s resources) there wouldn’t be such a strong demand for oil and other fossil fuel extractions. We must look at our own individual choices, the vehicles we drive, the food we eat, products we buy, and how we power our homes. Because we can criticize and protest, but until we change some fundamental aspects of our own lives, fossil fuel extraction will continue. Our transition to clean energy will be due to a disaster and no other choices, rather than adapting the logical and noble idea of harnessing the earth’s energy now. Energy that has created life for billions of years.

We must see inherent value in all life beyond a dollar sign or usefulness to us. Just because its not a commodity doesn’t mean it has no value in it’s existence. We need to adapt a more biocentric perspective and recognize our connection and dependence on biological systems, because believe or not we are part of these systems. If you take pieces out or diminish foundations, every part of the system is affected, including us. We shouldn’t have to deteriorate our landscapes, cities and communities just to continue our lifestyles, we can be stewards of the land. We can create smarter communities and more localized urban infrastructures that use logical and sustainable methods.

It’s morally wrong to leave our children with toxic chemicals in the ground, un-fertile farmland, contaminated water sources, ancient forests destroyed, soaring cancer rates, diminishing quality of food and an overall materialistic outlook on life where people consume without thought.


If you’re not mad yet, you’re not paying fucking attention.

The Shadows talk across the canyon. They’re words speak through his eyes. Meandering from the window in the rock, he searches over cathedrals of sand, through the washes, down beyond the belts that hold the day. He kneels, sinking himself into the cool bank, it rushes over as it takes him.

It’s rhythm is steady, like a drum in the clay. As he drifts, he speaks his name to the canyon walls.....

Take me to your mountains....
Take me to your fields…..
Where does the spirit dwell?
Where does it lay?
Is there still ceremony?
I want to hear the echo of our ancestors.....
I want to see the footprints that stand over the rain….

You have always been here…
You grew in the turquoise water
Shaped by the winter snows
You were fed by the stars
The lizards were your eyes
You were no different than the stone in the sand…….