View from Mars
Rata at Whanganui Inlet
Good news that Bolivian President Eva Morales is inviting indigenous peoples, social movements, environmentalists and scientists as well as governments ”who want to work with their people” to an alternative climate conference in Cochabamba on April 20-22. It is great that leaders and the people are getting together to direct focused energy into making the world a better place.
Also in Bolivia, they have developed two inter-cultural pharmacies in the Andes that offer both natural, traditional medicines and remedies, and normal western medicine. There are many wild places where natural remedies have been used by the people for generations and it is great that these remedies are becoming more available to the people of Bolivia. The example being set there is very valuable for all of us as development of more access to traditional, natural remedies is a win-win scenario.
Protecting our natural spaces is really important. In New Jersey, the first of two highly anticipated conservation projects was recently completed. 166 acres in Frankford Township known as Armstrong Bog have been added to the conservation estate. This land, the expanded Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge area, in the past was likely to be a subdivision or development and now it is protected for all people. The aquifers are protected, at least three Native American rock shelters are protected, the threatened bog turtle that lives in Armstrong Bog is facing a better future, and finally – the area covers Papakating Creek, which provides plant habitat for the rare Frasers St Johns wort. An awesome initiative with so many positive benefits.
A cascade of giving – what a lovely term. A small act of kindness is the seed for other acts of kindness and before you know it you have a cascade!
Small is beautiful and Aldo Magazzeni is making a massive positive difference for the people of Afghanistan. During the last five years, the 60-year-old co-owner of a New Jersey manufacturing firm has arranged for some 75,000 people in remote areas of Afghanistan to be connected to community water systems. As Aldo says, “With less money, and keeping things small, I have accomplished more than I would have done if I had a ton of money.” We can make a difference, here and there – we just have to believe.
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