Good Morning, Earthlings!
I am writing from the dry side of Oregon where Peter and I have been visiting my daughter and grandkids in Bend, a high-desert climate. Had a great time at the seashore and the Oregon Country Fair as well!
I am writing to you now because I want you all to mark your calendars for Friday, July 22, 5-6:30pm, when we will have THREE candidates for the Vermont Legislature live in person at our meeting, joining our circle! The candidates are : Michelle Bos-Lun from Westminster, who is running for her second term as State Representative. After redistricting changes, Bos-Lun will be seeking re-election for one of two seats in the new Windham 3 district which will include all of Westminster, Rockingham, and Brookline. Michelle is a friend of mine as well as a friend of Earth, a strong supporter of “people and planet."
Recently I attended the kick-off celebration of the Kchi Pôntegok – Great Falls Petroglyph Project https://vermontjournal.com/history/kchi-pontegok-project-awarded-grant/that I wrote about in the last newsletter. There I was happy to meet Leslie Goldman lesliegoldmanvt.com the state rep for Windham-3, which now includes Westminster. Leslie says:
"I’m a longtime Vermonter, retired nurse practitioner, community advocate, lifelong Democrat, and state representative serving Vermont’s Windham-3 district.”
I can’t seem to get her photo to show up here, so you can go to her website and see videos as well as info about Leslie.
The third candidate is Nader Hashim who is running for the Vermont Senate. Nader says: "As a former Vermont State Trooper and State Representative, I've directly seen the needs and concerns affecting Vermonters throughout our county. I am committed to addressing the housing crisis, preserving our environment, rural economic development, and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors.” I met Nader at Cheryl Charles’ event for him at her home last month. Hashimforsenate.com is his website.
So please mark your calendars for an in-person friendly meeting on July 22 at 5pm, to be held at the Westminster West Congregational Church, 40 Church St. Putney (of course it’s not really Putney…)
Now for other cool stuff:
LEAG Founding Member Cheryl Charles sent us a link, saying "this podcast interview with me was just released by NatureRevisited. I am surprised by how pleased I am with it. It is about 30 minutes in length. While sharing my own heart-felt commitment to children, community and the living Earth, it also lets me feature many of my cherished "communities of change," including the Living Earth Action Group.” Thanks, Cheryl! Thanks and love, Cheryl
From BALE (Building A Local Economy) in White River Junction:
The Age of the Water Protector and Climate Chaos Here, in this 18-minute video presented at a recent Bioneers gathering, is the most effective framework I’ve heard on the potency of the Indigenous leadership to challenge the extractive hegemony of capital and its subservient governments. Nick Estes describes the Anishinaabe people’s resistance to the “Line 3” pipeline in Minnesota, the outsized impact frontline Indigenous communities are having in resisting extractive industries, the importance Earth-centered approaches to fighting for climate justice, and the overarching goal of being “good ancestors of the future.” Don’t miss this talk HERE.
Raising awareness of the harms caused by Round-Up (glyphosate) herbicide has been a pet topic of Living Earth Action Group. A study just came out showing that a full 80% of Americans’ blood contains glyphosate!!! That’s you and me and our children and grandchildren. In addition to being a carcinogen, glyphosate is linked to brain disorders such as ADD and autism. As I’m sure you know, the rate of autism in our children is skyrocketing. That curve is not leveling off. Dr. Zach Bush has been one of my teachers and sources for information about glyphosate, as well as for changing the way we farm in the good ole USA. He founded Farmers’ Footprint to bring together grain farmers so they can farm without poisons, improving our soils and our human and animal health. Here is the latest, a live webinar, from Farmers’ Footprint:
We have an unprecedented opportunity to center the intersection of human and soil health as preparations for the White House Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition get underway and the October 1 deadline for glyphosate registration by the EPA comes closer. This type of conference has only happened once before in the history of the United States. In 1969 foundational programs and policies were signed during this conference including WIC, the school lunch program, and the food stamp program amongst others. The Farmer's Footprint is hosting a free and exclusive event bringing together expert voices in human health, land stewardship, policy, and advocacy to discuss the topic of glyphosate and its impact on human and planetary health including US Senator Cory Booker, Zach Bush M.D., Kelly Ryerson, Calla Rose Ostrander and Matt Nicoletti with lead moderator and journalist Carey Gillam. This event is about raising awareness about glyphosate and a unified call to action we can take to advocate for policy that supports a healthy food system for all. There has never been a more important time to collectively unite to create a better future - one without a toxic food system. Help us spread the word and make an impact. LIVE Webinar: Tuesday, July 19th 2pm PST/5pm EST REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
And I will finish with a thought-provoking message once again from a Hopi elder, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, who is an elder brother to us all:
Wild Revolution · Join Deja Hu · 17h · “We were told that we would see America come and go. In a sense, Humanity is dying, from within, because they forgot the instructions of how to live on earth. It's the Hopi belief, it's our belief, that if you are not spiritually connected to the earth, and understand the spiritual reality of how to live on earth, it's likely that you will not make it. Everything is spiritual, everything has a spirit, everything was brought here by the creator, the one creator. Some people call him God, some people call him Buddha, some people call him Allah, some people call him other names. We call him Tunkaschila... Grandfather. We are here on earth only a few winters, then we go to the spirit world. The spirit world is more real than most of us believe. The spirit world is everything. Over 95% of our body is water. In order to stay healthy, you've got to drink good water. ... Water is sacred, the air is sacred. Our DNA is made out of the same DNA as the tree, the tree breaths what we exhale, we need what the tree exhales. So we have a common destiny with the tree. We are all from the earth, and when the earth, the water, the atmosphere is corrupted, then it will create its own reaction. The mother is reacting. In the Hopi prophecy, they say the storms and floods will become greater. To me, it's not a negative thing to know that there will be great changes. It's not negative, it's evolution. When you look at it as evolution, it's time, nothing stays the same. You should learn how to plant something. That is the first connection. You should treat all things as spirit, realize that we are one family. It's never something like the end. It's like life, there is no end to life.” ~Floyd Red Crow Westerman Borrowed from All Natives United "We are all connected; we all belong.” Remember to Be Kind to the Earth by being Kind to Yourself. You are a unique and precious being. You deserve your own kindness and caring, the best care you can give. These are challenging times emotionally as well as every other way. Love your land, love your local wildlife, love your family, your community and especially LOVE YOURSELF. That means different things for everyone. Recognize what YOU need to be happy and love yourself the very best way you can. I think I’ll end with that message. Be Well, Caitlin Adair for Living Earth Action Group Westminster West, Vermont
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