THINK GLOBALLY. ACT LOCALLY

It has become a common slogan, but thinking globally and acting locally is no cliché. I think it’s THE WAY to actually having a direct impact through our own actions.

THINK GLOBALLY

To begin with, there is a very important matter coming soon to the Senate Floor in a national capital near and dear to you! It has to do with reestablishing the right of Habeas Corpus that was stolen from the people of the world through The Military Commissions Act recently rushed through the Congress. Send a message to your Senators today. It’s simple, just click on this link and let Senator Leahy help you through the process.


While you’re at it, why not ask your senators to vote “No Confidence” for Alberto Gonzales today. Word is that the Senate vote will fail to send the right message today, but for people interested in reasserting concern for human rights back into our government and deal a blow to BuschCo for politicizing the Department of Justice support for ouster is a must. Many Republicans believe Gonzales should go, but won’t vote for it because that would be supportive of a Democratic effort. Aren’t you sick of seeing party affiliation determine votes on issues of importance to the people?

ACT LOCALLY

I spent Sunday in a volunteer job – cooking chicken and brats for a conference of Missouri Stream Team volunteers. For those unfamiliar, the State of Missouri sponsors a program called Missouri Stream Team in which people volunteer, undergo training, join or form a team, select a 100 yard long stretch of a stream and then monitor the stream’s health two to four times a year. The data they gather is invaluable in assessing the quality of our state’s water and waterways. (If you’d like more info on the program, email me or comment here, and I’ll respond.) Here is one of the stories related as part of the conference program.

Within the city limits of Springfield there is a stream called Ward Branch that has been downgrading for years. Its banks routinely collapsed and there was very little life in its waters. Recognizing that no single agency could do the whole job, a coalition of local agencies was formed including City Parks, Division of Natural Resources, The Watershed Committee, MO Stream Team, and the MO Department of Conservation. (If I’ve left anyone off the list, please forgive me and let me know.)

I had recently noticed that a long stretch of this stream had recently been decked out with white rock along both banks, but seeing only from a distance, thought that it was just the old channelization process that ultimately ruined so many streams in our state in the past. Wrong again! Unseen from the highway from which I had viewed the project, are rocks buried along the inside bends and strips of mulch parallel to the streambed throughout the rockwork. The mulch is planted with appropriate water tolerant natural plants according to their proximity to the water. More plantings were also made in the riparian corridor atop the banks. (30 volunteers planted more than 1500 trees and shrubs. My shame is that I wasn’t one of them.) Within five years, I was told, the rocks will be only barely discernable, the stream will rebuild its old bed by depositing gravel, and the stream will be well on its way back to health. Pictures already confirm this. The land has all been ceded to the city parks commission, and a greenway has been built along the stream so folks can enjoy and participate in the project.

There are many examples of inter-agency and citizen cooperation in the ecological concerns of the area, but this one is a true gem that demonstrates the effects of stewardship in dramatic fashion. The streambed has already begun to heal, and in just a few years everyone living near that stream or having anything else to do with it is going to see what working together can accomplish.

What a great example of thinking globally and acting locally. The more we can do to enhance the quality of the world’s water, the healthier our planet stands to be for our children and grandchildren and all the children of the earth. It’s also a great example of being the change you wish to see in the world. I hope your Sunday was as informative and as much fun for you as mine was. If it not, get involved in a project like this or start one yourself. From then on your Sundays and those of everyone around you will be better.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. -- M. K. Gandhi

Individually we have little voice. Collectively we cannot be ignored.
But in silence we surrender our power. Yours in Peace -- BR