March 15, Action

A March 15 action item: Send a postcard to Donald Trump. Send at least one card, but it is hard to stop at one. Weekly, I have been sending postcards, and it is good for the soul.
What issues are you passionate about? What are you upset about? What do you think of the first few weeks of this administration? Time is now to express your thoughts. March 15, is “Send a Postcard to Donald Trump Day.”
Spread the word! Everyone on Earth should let Donald J. Trump know how he’s doing as the president of the United States.
No postcards? Make you own. Cut 4 inch by 6 inch pieces from poster board. Walgreens usually has poster board, but they also might have postcards.
On March 15th, mail your messages to:

Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

My postcards this week will be about clean water/clean air, the Great Lakes Restoration Fund, healthcare for everyone, enormous tax cuts for billionaires, travel bans, and all the lies coming out of this White House. I believe in being positive, don’t loose sight of the important issues facing us all. There are so many concerns and so many issues, go for it!! Remember, Wednesday, March 15. Thank you.

March on Lake Superior

March brings melting snow, longer days and deep blue sun,

Hope of spring and then a big snow fall!

but then a big dump of new snow. Today the lake in front of my house is full of white slush, but two days ago it was empty of snow, ice, or any sign of winter. With the winds and currents the lake is constantly refreshing itself!

15 degree temps and there were fishermen in a small boat fishing in the ice chunks — 15 degree temps, and there were fishermen in a small boat fishing in the ice chunks

Water Is Life

We can't take clean water for granted! — We can’t take clean water for granted!

No one should be allowed to pollute our water ways, no one! The water we have on earth is the only water we will ever have and we must take care of it. Mr. Trump has proposed to roll back regulation for our waterways, but says he is for clean water??? The water on earth belongs to all of us, not to just big business or farmers, but to everyone. We depend on clean water for drinking and recreation, and wildlife needs clean water for survival. We cannot choose profits over the health of people. It will take time and much litigation to eliminate these rules, but we all need to speak out for clean water. Read about rolling back clean water protection here. Pay attention to actions not to worthless talk!

Donate to the following organizations that litigate for clean water:

NRDC, (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Earth Justice

Good Ideas to Reduce Plastic

This is an excellent blog on reducing plastic from http://www.ecomena.org. It is so simple!
Ecomena’s top ways to reduce plastic are:
1. Bring your own shopping bags
2. Buy bulk and refill your own containers
3. Don’t purchase bottled water
4. Say “No” to straws

Read the entire blog here

And, Health4earth on Refuse Plastic

Some co-ops and grocery stores have fabulous selections of soaps and oils to refill your bottles

A New Frozen Look

February 1st, Lake Superior waves were crashing and pounding the shore, and it was reported that only 5% of the big lake was covered with ice. I was surprised that early morning February 2, our bay became covered with ice. The waves look frozen in time, and the frozen landscape brings a new quiet peaceful reality. How long will it last? Probably not long. Lake ice today is fragile and depends on the winds and sudden whims of this living warming lake. The first big wind will probably break and send the ice onto the shore, or to another bay to continue the fascinating winter entertainment.

Voters for Dirty Air And Water?

Did voters on November 8, vote for dirty water and dirty air? I know one Trump voter who is totally against the Dakota Access Pipeline. I can’t believe that November’s vote was to trash our water and air! Please call your senators.

No matter where you live, call your senator and tell them to oppose Scott Pruitt’s confirmation as EPA Administrator: (202) 224-3121
You can use this tool to quickly find your senator and click to call them: http://on.nrdc.org/2kkFfOL

Below is from the NRDC, Natural Resources Defense Council:

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is the worst, most extreme nominee ever tapped to lead the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. We must stop him! As Oklahoma Attorney General, he has sued the EPA 18 times to fight clean air and water rules. Seventeen of these 18 he joined with fossil fuel companies in suing the EPA. Pruitt has gone to court to fight rules that would save up to 45,000 lives, and avoid hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and heart attacks every year.. More than 1 in 10 children in Oklahoma have asthma, which is one of highest rates of asthma in United States.

He routinely allies with big polluters to promote prioritize their profits over the health and safety of ordinary people. How could he possibly be qualified to protect our air and water?

Bottom line: he is unfit to serve as the nation’s top environmental steward. We only need 3 senators to swing their votes the right way to stop him! CALL RIGHT NOW.

And if you live in one of the following states, it is particularly important to call these senators:
Sen. Joe Donnelly (Indiana) 202-224-4814
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota) 202-224-2043
Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) 202-224-2523
Sen. Dean Heller (Nevada) 202- 224-6244
Sen. Jeff Flake (Arizona) (202) 224-4521
Sen. Rob Portman (Ohio) (202) 224-3353
Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tennessee) (202) 224-4944
Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia) (202) 224-3954

Fish for dinner? Where was it caught?

To think that people are going to stop eating fish is a heavy lift. Even the vegans I know will eat fish and sushi. Do you purchase fish and shrimp? Some things to consider:

Why would anyone purchase or eat fish caught in Viet Nam or China? I thought this was such an interesting and strange story, and It should be shared to heighten people’s awareness. Most Americans eat fish caught in Asia while fish caught in Massachusetts is exported to Europe. Why would anyone purchase or eat fish caught in Viet Nam or China? Watch the segment on Dog Fish, a sustainable fish, here.

In the United States it is possible to purchase sustainable Gulf caught shrimp and scallops, as well as wild caught cod, salmon and other fish from the Pacific Ocean. Also, fish from the Great Lakes is excellent.

Be a Climatarian, consider the planet when you make all food and fish choices, and buy local and USA products if they are available. And then there is the thought that we shouldn’t be eating fish at all. Read it here from One Green Planet

It’s Beautiful, Cold and Frosty

The waves from Lake Superior pound the sandstone cliff.
Frost covers everything it can hang on.
The thermostat reads -5 degrees.
Eagles, chickadees, pileated woodpeckers, grouse, six deer and a fox search for food.
I am glad I have the choice whether to be inside or out.

Use Writing to Make the World Better!

“Imagine a world where humankind lives in harmony, not only with itself but also with other forms of life, in balance with the planet’s resources. Imagine the world as you would like it to be.” Steve Wilbers

Writing coach, Steve Wilbers is imagining the world as he would like it to be. Can you imagine how powerful it would be if everyone held a vision of kindness, and imagined a world of kindness. Powerful!

His suggestions are timely: Write a thank you note, blog, write a letter to a newspaper. Read his article here. Write about your passions, your images of how the world should be. Speak out, write, and make the world a better place!

“You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one”

Imagine, John Lennon

Does “climate change” exist in Wisconsin?

Ice on Lake Superior doesn't last long, and the lake is warming! — Ice on Lake Superior doesn’t last long, and the lake is warming!

As Wisconsin and the world have probably just experienced one of the warmest years on record, Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin, is deleting climate change from existence, or trying anyway. Sorry governor, climate change is not going away!

I have a cabin in Wisconsin, and can rattle off the climate changes I have seen in just the last few years: First I have lived through three very dangerous storms. All three were 100-year events with flooding and loss of many trees. Second, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, lakes surrounding Wisconsin, are warming at a pace never seen before. Third, good winter snow is a thing of the past. Either it doesn’t snow, or after it snows, it rains or warms up making winter sports icy and dangerous. We experience long droughts, then too much rain at one time. And finally, the night temperatures are rising; it doesn’t get as cold on winter or summer nights. Where I sit in Wisconsin the climate is changing!

The governor must feel the need for some attention, or maybe he is applying for a position in the Trump administration? What is the purpose, to waste taxpayer money?

As a taxpayer in Wisconsin I do not appreciate such a waste of time and resources. Can this be good for the Wisconsin economy? I know people who refuse to spend any money in Wisconsin. They drive through refusing to stop or spend a dollar. Why would businesses want to locate in such a backwards place?

Why should we care about climate change?

What is the future, when we can't accept the reality of the present — What is the future, when we can’t accept the reality of the present?

http://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-deleted-dnr-website-2166939088.html

Good News! Humans No Longer Caused Climate Change, According to the State of Wisconsin

http://gizmodo.com/good-news-humans-no-longer-caused-climate-change-acco-1790641483