Oh, Misti, my heart breaks that we have to witness the disintegration of places we love. My heart goes out to you. Thank you for writing this--surely the other beings hear you pleading for them.
As I watched the attendee count trickle upward and then seeing names of people I know from Substack or Instagram, it was amazing to be somewhat connected to everyone as we tried to come to terms with all of our own collective grief. I can only imagine it will continue to open us all up over the next few weeks.
So true, Misti. Money and greed have prevailed for too long. I've seen the destruction as well. I try to focus on what has been saved. I live in a community that has lost much, but has saved much, too. Both extremes must be highlighted to guide us in the future.
It is especially disturbing to me when they do this to a designated park! I want proof that it was necessary, that there was no other way to solve whatever need they imagined. But instead they pull rank and there is an impotent explanation. But you have no power to help, to intervene. It brings back childhood memories of being angered and frustrated when my mom said,
Thank you, Beth! It's a complicated story of underfunding our park's department and an energy company taking advantage of the situation, a 50 year lease. The state is working through eminent domain proceedings to take it back but in the meantime the developer is moving forward as if nothing is happening. It's very vengeful.
There was an undeveloped field adjacent to the local nature preserve. The deer wandered through it to get from the preserve to a small wooded park along the river. McMansions are being built there now. I am so sad I can't even look at it. I have years of photos of deer grazing there. In the nature center I see litter along the trails, a used condom near a bench. I saw the news of the boys who came one night with a funnel to force feed beer to the goat in his pen, they were caught on security cameras. I see people walking their dogs off leash past the Please no pets sign. Large dogs who could prey on baby fawns or raccoons or rabbits. I see how the rehab team tirelessly tries to save rare birds caught in backyard soccer and lacrosse nets. I see them try to save endangered box turtles whose shells were decorated with paint and nail polish. I see them try to rescue birds from glue traps.
We were supposed to be stewards of this fair planet, not destroyers.
Oh, Misti, my heart breaks that we have to witness the disintegration of places we love. My heart goes out to you. Thank you for writing this--surely the other beings hear you pleading for them.
Once a haven, open space
Of wood and air, leaf and water,
With miracles of scale and feather;
Now a hive, with row upon row of sameness,
Choking day and twilight night,
With machine companions, slave and master.
In just one session, Journaling Earth has offered a sacred space (and community) for healing and awareness.
As I watched the attendee count trickle upward and then seeing names of people I know from Substack or Instagram, it was amazing to be somewhat connected to everyone as we tried to come to terms with all of our own collective grief. I can only imagine it will continue to open us all up over the next few weeks.
MK, your presence helped create a sacred space. The work you do on behalf of wildness is crucial, is holy.
So true, Misti. Money and greed have prevailed for too long. I've seen the destruction as well. I try to focus on what has been saved. I live in a community that has lost much, but has saved much, too. Both extremes must be highlighted to guide us in the future.
It is especially disturbing to me when they do this to a designated park! I want proof that it was necessary, that there was no other way to solve whatever need they imagined. But instead they pull rank and there is an impotent explanation. But you have no power to help, to intervene. It brings back childhood memories of being angered and frustrated when my mom said,
“because I say so”. My heart goes out to you!
Thank you, Beth! It's a complicated story of underfunding our park's department and an energy company taking advantage of the situation, a 50 year lease. The state is working through eminent domain proceedings to take it back but in the meantime the developer is moving forward as if nothing is happening. It's very vengeful.
Very sad!
There was an undeveloped field adjacent to the local nature preserve. The deer wandered through it to get from the preserve to a small wooded park along the river. McMansions are being built there now. I am so sad I can't even look at it. I have years of photos of deer grazing there. In the nature center I see litter along the trails, a used condom near a bench. I saw the news of the boys who came one night with a funnel to force feed beer to the goat in his pen, they were caught on security cameras. I see people walking their dogs off leash past the Please no pets sign. Large dogs who could prey on baby fawns or raccoons or rabbits. I see how the rehab team tirelessly tries to save rare birds caught in backyard soccer and lacrosse nets. I see them try to save endangered box turtles whose shells were decorated with paint and nail polish. I see them try to rescue birds from glue traps.
We were supposed to be stewards of this fair planet, not destroyers.