Dear Friends,
HERE’S THIS WEEK’S PODCAST. Mark Clipsham and I connect the dots between symptoms (instability and chaos) and causes (energy and economic policy). Into the conversation, we roll the demise of the Iowa Caucuses, drought in the West, and the uptick in violent crime. To lighten it up, Kathy and I wrap up the program discussing death and decomposition … well, composting, specifically.
Lala coordinating with help from Jeffrey (front), Shira and Ben (back).
With Earth Day approaching, I was reflecting on where I was and what I was doing on Earth Days past. During the Great March for Climate Action in 2014, Earth Day was a roller-coaster. I wrote about in Marcher, Walker, Pilgrim, and share that experience here:
On April 22, Earth Day, we arrive at the home of Mark Boyko and Karen Abbott near Concho. They graciously offer us a two-day break from wilderness camping. Like many people in eastern Arizona they live off the grid, their home powered entirely by solar and wind energy. We find ample space to pitch our tents, yet due to the howling wind and cold temperatures, Mark and Karen let marchers sleep in their spacious Quonset hut. They also invite us to use their shower.
Lala prepares the best meal of the March: a multi-course, Mediterranean-style dinner featuring ratatouille, baba ganoush, tabouleh, falafel, and hummus. The only thing missing is meat. I play my accordion while Lala and others cook. It’s a peaceful, happy occasion. Some marchers dance. A few sing along. Lala requests “Never on a Sunday,” one of her favorite tunes. I haven’t played it since I was a kid, yet it comes back to me and Lala is thrilled.
Lala insists that tonight’s meal is not just about food but about presentation. The meal is served at tall, round tables. Marchers and our guests stand at the tables and move from one to the next, socializing with new dining companions throughout the meal. This constant switching of partners strikes me as the culinary equivalent of a contra dance.
During the Great March for Climate Action, circa Earth Day 2014, Ed bundled up against the cold of the high desert in eastern Arizona.
After dinner, I’m confronted with the reality that the March’s financial situation is worse than I thought. Earlier in the day, Shari informed me that we needed to raise $5,000 by the end of the week in order to meet our commitments. I know I will have to work hard on our day off and avoid distractions. Kim and some of the other marchers won’t be happy that I’m not socializing, but I see no way around it.
Mark and Karen have a spare bedroom. They let me hole up there during our two-night stay. This works well. I’m able to raise $5,000 and meet our financial shortfall. But it comes at a price, as I’ll soon discover.
“Yeah, staying in that nice, comfy bedroom. That was probably a bad call,” says Shira as we march together the next day. She spent the night in the Quonset hut with most of the other marchers. “They say you’re ‘profiting’ off the March. They say you’re mismanaging our funds. Now you’re a pampered elitist,” Shira says with a laugh.
“Well,” I assure her. “I try to do something stupid every day. It keeps me young.”
“Besides, look at this!” I mutter, waving my phone in the air. “Dead. There’s no Internet or phone service out here at all today. Instead of being productive while I walk, I have to listen to you and Steve babble,” I laugh.
But I know Shira’s right. Although the occasional opportunities to cloister myself and get work done are necessary, especially when finances are tight, I’m fully aware they provide my detractors more raw meat to gnaw on.
I put that out of my mind. Spring in the high desert has turned harsh, threatening to transform the March into an episode of Survivor. Nights are much colder, with temperatures dipping to 20°. Days are cold, too. We march bundled in layers, counting on the exertion of walking to keep warm.
On such days, camp life is miserable. Cooking, eating, and using the EcoCommodes are uncomfortable. I’m concerned that marchers who are less cautious and less experienced with the outdoors may be at risk from frostbite or hypothermia.
As it turned out, I should have been more concerned about myself.
— Ed
*******
(02:00) Iowa Caucuses may be going bye-bye;
(10:00) Drought in the US West will get worse;
(19:00) Mainstream media miss the boat on violent crime;
(54:00) Composting, with Kathy Byrnes.
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Ed Fallon