Counting Breaths by Jen Kress

 

“tenderness will

always remain,

look at the horizon and watch

for a new day will come…”

Jen Kress (From her poem “Meraki”)

To inhabit the world of poetry is to sail a raft on unsteady waves while relishing the vastness of the sky and savoring the beauty of each moment with a sense of ease and hope.

To inhabit the world of poetry is to meet the uncertainty of life with courage, breathing in the light that keeps oneself strong and balanced.

 Jen Kress’s poetry collection is an adventurous quest for resilience, a poetical oasis where the waters of solitude and understanding intertwine into a harmony of souls to persevere and look forward to a new sunrise.

 Her personal journey evokes the depths of inner joy and sadness, merging them into breathtaking stories. Her expressive skills are outstanding; her metaphors evince intimate aspects of herself, painting the quandaries, struggles and longings of her heart with delicate precision.

 I will be revisiting her poems in search of new meanings and inspiration.

 

“This journey light, to follow through

my tunneled dreams;

heaven’s woven map hides your chosen path,

a constellation, home… picture the stars above,

a blanket littered with uncharted possibility!”

 

There may be no clear answers to life uncertainties and mysteries, but there is poetry…

I thank the poet for sharing Counting Breaths with me for My Writing Life blog.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also appreciate my writing on “The Winds through the Trees at Night.”

 

Till next year.

 

 

She Sells Seashells by the Seashore by Lawrence Jean-Louis

 

 Over 2.7 billion women are legally restricted from having the same chance of jobs as men, according to UN Women. Fifty-nine economies have no laws on sexual harassment in the workplace. In 18 economies husbands can legally prevent their wives from working.

 The introduction of She Sells Seashells by the Seashore shares the statistics mentioned above.  The title of the book alludes to the life of Mary Anning, a pioneer paleontologist. Male geologists bought the fossils she discovered and published them as their own work, without giving her credit. Scientists doubted the validity of Mary Anning's findings.

  Mary Anning (1799-1847) had no formal education in science, but her father taught her how to search for and clean fossils. Mary could draw, read and write, and she applied her skills to the science of discovering and studying fossils. Her dedication and motivation led her to take over the family business after her father passed away, when she was only eleven years old.

  Mary Anning discovered the first plesiosaur in Lyme Regis, a small town on the Southern coast of England. Yet the finding was not considered valid until a famous anatomist, Georges Cuvier, acknowledged her discovery. From that point on, the scientific community began to take her family business seriously. Yet recognition was limited. She worked hard, but the stress of her financial constraints may have taken a toll on her health. She died from breast cancer when she was only 47 years old. Her life story is a reminder of the crucial role that any kind of support has on the impact of a person’s life.

 She Sells Seashells by the Seashore includes twelve biographies of entrepreneurial women who moved forward against all odds.  The women in this book have various ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, and their stories transport us to different periods in history. As we examine their struggles and accomplishments, we can reflect on the challenges that still lie ahead for women today.

 In addition to Mary Anning’s life story, the biographies that interested me the most from this collection were those of Josephine Baker (1906-1975) and Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965).

 This is a good opportunity to remind the world that blocking women in any way undermines humanity as a whole. The grim situation of women in Afghanistan and Iran is the result of abusive men in power. Religious and political fanaticisms have no boundaries. Totalitarian regimes are driven by extremists who have no respect for democratic principles. Let’s not confuse the word democracy with theocracy. They are not compatible.

 Speaking up to support women is not against any cultural norm. Education and human dignity are basic human rights; those who justify the oppression of women on the basis of culture are simply trying to justify violence and injustice against women. They are trying to silence us. Let’s take a moment to remember Mahsa Amini whose life was cut short in Iran by the so-called “morality police” because of a dress code imposed on women. I just signed petitions to protect the life of other innocent people in Iran, like actress Taranech Alidoosti and actor Hossein Mohammadi. Let’s speak up for their lives. Let’s tell the Iranian government that executing people to suppress dissent is an atrocity. Human lives matter. My heart is with these people; I admire their resilience and I think of them often.

 An important aspect of gender inequality that is often ignored is the current climate crisis. I was surprised that the introduction of She Sells Seashells by the Seashore did not mention anything about the ways climate change amplifies gender inequality.

 Across the world women are more vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. Tasks like finding fresh water, collecting firewood and taking care of the land are mainly done by women. Climate change hinders these duties, forcing women to make longer journeys to accomplish their goals. Women and girls are more likely to be vulnerable to all forms of gender-based violence, human trafficking, child marriage and other forms of violence.

 Research shows that women are 14 times more likely to be displaced because of climate change.

 According to a report released by the secretariat of the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2022, “the adverse effects of droughts, floods, hurricanes, extreme rainfall events and sea level rise are often felt more keenly by women than men as a result of systemic gender discrimination and societal expectations related to gender roles.”

 Last but not least, extreme heat increases the incidence of stillbirth and makes pregnant women more vulnerable to various medical conditions that threaten their lives.To understand the link between climate change and gender inequality, feel free to check the supplementary reading material I am sharing at the bottom of this post.

  I thank the author of She Sells Seashells by the Seashore for sending me a copy of her book for My Writing Life blog.

 Today My Writing Life blog turns 12 years old. I feel thankful for having this space to express myself. The right to read books and to write about them is a right I do not take for granted. I am honored to have this space; it has been a unique journey.

 Thank you for reading these words, and for making this blog a meaningful endeavor. It is an honor to have you as a reader. I recently learned that in certain places-- China, for example-- blogger is censored by the government, and this made me reflect on the fragility of the freedom to communicate. 

  My Writing Life blog supports the freedom to read books as an essential foundation of democracy. 

 I have been asked how I choose books for My Writing Life blog. There is no specific answer to this question. I read books that interest me, books that satisfy my curiosity. Hence, I select books that educate and inspire me. I also feel inspired to inspire others by sharing the wisdom of books that leave me in awe or make my heart sing.

  I also cherish books that connect me to my deepest self and ignite a spark of hope and understanding between cultures; I appreciate books that have the potential to make some kind of positive impact on the world.

 I explored the kinds of books I read over the last 14 months. These graphs show the results.

 

                  

 

 

 

If you reached this point of the blog post you deserve something delicious.

I created this recipe. You can make this special soup to celebrate the existence of My Writing Life blog. It is gluten-free, diary-free and plant-based.

It is also easy to make and very nutritious. This special soup nourishes the mind and body:

                           

                             Ingredients (for about 3 people):

-One onion

- Leeks (two)

-1/2 a teaspoon of Turmeric

-1/2 a teaspoon of Oregano

- 1 Tablespoon of Nutritional Yeast

-One and a half cups of chopped butternut squash

-One and a half cups of uncooked chickpea beans

-1 cup of chopped spinach or chard

                                           -1 Tablespoon of soy sauce (optional)

-1 cup of chopped mushrooms

-2 cloves of garlic

- 1-2 tablespoons of Olive oil

-Half a cup of cooked quinoa

Instructions

Place the uncooked chickpea beans in a big saucepan adding 10 cups of water and place it on the stove to let it boil. The water used to cook the beans is called aquafaba and is full of nutrition

Place the chopped leeks, chopped onion and chopped butternut squash along with the olive oil, turmeric and oregano. Mix it well, but before it is fully cooked pour the mixture into the saucepan where the chickpea beans are getting cooked. Add the nutritional yeast, the soy sauce and the cooked quinoa. Let everything get cooked as needed.

During the last five minutes add the chopped spinach (or Swiss chard). Let it simmer there for about five minutes

In a separate pan, add the mushrooms with the garlic and some olive oil.  Cook this for a few minutes. When the soup is ready add the mushrooms on top of the soup.

 I hope you enjoy this warm revitalizing soup for the soul.

 While you savor the soup, celebrate the birthday of My Writing Life blog by listening to this thought-provoking  talk by Jonathan Friedman of PEN America about the freedom to read books:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGxCT6kzQ5Y

 

                     Wherever you are,  I wish you a healthy and safe holiday season.

 

Supplementary links:

https://fortune.com/2022/07/25/why-climate-change-disproportionally-impacts-women/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/explainer-how-gender-inequality-and-climate-change-are-interconnected

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126680819/the-death-of-a-young-iranian-woman-in-police-custody-continues-to-reverberate

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/23/middleeast/iran-footballer-amir-nasr-azadani-execution-intl/index.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/dozens-protest-afghan-capital-after-taliban-close-universities-women-2022-12-22/

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-53640382

Spirit Woman: The Diaries and Paintings of Bonita Wa Wa Calachaw Nunez

 

“Puritanic resistance has prevented many of our greater minds in their work of discovery. And that is why freedom of thought must by all means be the cause to fight for.”

Wa Wa Chaw

 Before turning twelve years old, Wa Wa Chaw was already making professional medical illustrations. She was a self-taught artist with various talents. Her poems and paintings are an expression of her exquisite sensitivity, intelligence and deep understanding of the challenges faced by the Indigenous people.

 Today I have the honor to dig out a unique gem from the ashes of indifference. The content of this book could have ended in the garbage bin had it not been for a friend of Wa Wa Chaw who cared to rescue it. His name was Stan Steiner. He edited her diaries and was able to publish them with many of her impressive artworks in the year 1980.

 

  Wa Wa Chaw died when she was 84 years old. Strangely enough, she somehow anticipated her own death; she contacted her friend Stan Steiner, and made various arrangements before going to the hospital. The hospital workers found nothing wrong with her. They even scolded her for seeking medical care, but before she was discharged from the hospital she passed away peacefully, on May 12 1972, leaving behind an enigma without answers and a legacy that has the potential to illuminate the hearts of the oppressed people everywhere.

I first learned about Wa Wa Chaw when I read the book Unstoppable Native American Women, which I reviewed recently in My Writing Life blog. 

 Wa Wa Chaw was an avid learner and an original thinker who tried her best to support marginalized communities at a time when Indigenous people were considered inferior. Even though they had been born in America, they were not even considered American citizens. They were forced to live on reservations, and if they left those reservations they were labeled as “delinquent”. When somebody got sick, they were unable to get medical care due to the isolated nature of these places.

  Native Americans were denied jobs and accused of being lazy. Native American children were forced to attend segregated boarding schools, where they were emotionally and physically abused. Many of these children lost their lives there. Others survived, carrying the trauma of those harrowing experiences inside themselves.

 Wa Wa Chaw was born on the Rincon Reservation in Valley Center, California, on December 25 in the year 1888. She was adopted by a very intelligent woman: Mary Duggan, an Irish American. Mary Duggan raised Wa Wa Chaw in New York with the help of her brother, a physician who also instilled in Wa Wa Chaw the desire and freedom to learn as much as she could throughout her life.

 The candid introduction of the book by Stan Steiner adds various interesting facts about her life:

 “Her anatomical drawings, when she was still in puberty, made an important contribution to Dr. Duggan’s research, not merely in medicine but also in studies of the properties of radium and radioactivity—experiments he conducted at the time that Pierre and Marie Curie were at work on radium in Paris.”

 Wa Wa Chaw was educated at home with the aid of private tutors. It is inspiring to learn about the way her teachers guided her to become an independent thinker and a lifelong learner. However, Wa Wa Chaw was denied a college education because of her Native American background. Mary Duggan was devastated by this rejection, but Wa Wa Chaw refused to get discouraged. She reassured her mother and continued to be active in a world that treated her with disrespect and hostility. She wrote articles for magazines, gave lectures on women’s rights, painted, danced and advocated for those who were oppressed by discrimination and injustice.

 The first part of her book shares engaging details about Wa Wa’s childhood and youth. Her irresistible narrative is a reflection on her life experiences and observations. The second part focuses mainly on the stories and experiences of Native Americans that she met, but there are also personal insights, thought-provoking statements and personal experiences.

 Wa Wa Chaw and her adoptive mother travelled and witnessed the plight of various Native American communities. The readers of this book can learn history from the point of view of those who were oppressed and condemned to live in poverty. In her writing  Wa Wa Chaw refers to them as the “Indians.”  

 Wa Wa Chaw and her mother also travelled to England, where the artist was shocked by the poverty she encountered in the English territory. 

There is no doubt in my mind that if she had been a man, her works would be celebrated today. I encourage educators in North America and beyond to include this book in their school libraries. It is an invaluable historical record that deserves attention. It will contribute to the understanding of history in North America.  

Wa Wa Chaw expressed her dismay at any kind of religious and political fanaticism. Her words continue to be relevant in today's world. 

I will share the fragment of a powerful poem she wrote called Wisdom, You are Sweet.

“Beware you will be denounced

Walk lightly little feet--

Speak softly little Voice--

Be careful with your smile--

Wisdom will condemn you

Before the eyes of the people.

Lo, Indian-you are pronounced

Guilty for thinking.

Thinking, says Wisdom, is my friend.

Ay, sometimes Wisdom tells me to be silent.

Time says when to act. Obey or fall.

Wisdom asks questions,

Wisdom can recreate Mind and body.

It honors the word- humble. It holds the secret of understanding.

Lo, the Truth is friendly only in terms

Wisdom leads one into many ways to fight for a Great Cause.

We must have the Wisdom and Courage will follow.

Wisdom is the master Mind that gives and takes.

It often gives more than it takes.

There is often a golden moment and a minute for Wisdom.

I can play hide and seek, says Wisdom.

Hidden in the pit of Man’s ego I live--

Ay, the Eye may not see-

The tongue unable to speak-

Limbs may be dead--

I am the master in Man’s head…

Ay the vulturish Nature of civilization

Awaits Man. Even in Greater

Force than ever. I often wonder if this

Would be a good World if tolerance was a law. There is Land and Water everywhere. Thinking and thoughts, Questions and Answers, Everywhere.

Tolerance is needed-with Wisdom and understanding.”

This thought-provoking poem could have been written today. It is timeless, touching, profound.

This past weekend I learned that Afghan women  are banned from visiting parks in the city of Kabul. This article from the BBC recounts details of the indignities and the oppression they suffer in the hands of the ruling Talibans, but the world is busy watching the World Cup games in Qatar, a monarchy that treats women and LGBTQs as second-class citizens, a country where migrants’ lives are exploited.

  Why is the world forcing us to normalize the abuse of women, LGBTQs and migrants? This is not normal and I refuse to accept it as normal.

 Human rights matter.

Today I read that three high school students were executed in North Korea for watching and sharing South Korea’s TV shows with their peers. The evils of censorship have no limits. Totalitarian regimes and dictators don’t have limits, either. Beware of those who admire and support these dictators. 

 It is  necessary to stop empowering these toxic men (“dictators”), and the world should stop turning a blind eye to human rights violations.

 Human rights matter; women’s rights are human rights. Democracy matters. Freedom of thought and speech are essential. Let’s stop pretending otherwise.

 

To learn more about the struggles of Native Americans to become American citizens and to be allowed to vote, you can check this post:

https://www.history.com/news/native-american-voting-rights-citizenship

Here's another relevant article about teaching Native American history in schools. This one is from The Smithsonian Magazine:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/inside-new-effort-change-what-schools-teach-about-native-american-history-180973166/

 

Deer Man

 

"The Universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”

Eden Phillpotts

Deer are intriguing to me.

I remember being drawn to the fleeting gaze of a deer, perceiving in her gentle eyes the radiance of her friendly nature and intelligence. My curiosity was satisfied by Geoffroy Delorme’s Deer Man, a unique book that surpassed all my expectations and became an all-time favorite.

  During his childhood Geoffroy Delorme had a disappointing experience at school, so the decision was made to homeschool him. This period of his life afforded him the time and space he needed to explore his interests in the natural world.  He devoured books by Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall and other naturalists. He also learned as much as he could about the forests in Normandy, France, where he lived.

 He researched the kinds of foods in the forest that could nourish his body, gleaning information about the rich variety of plants and trees.

Geoffroy bonded with the forest when he was a kid.

 When he was nineteen years old, he decided to immerse himself in those forests, living close to the roe deer. As they foraged for food in the same areas, the deer were very curious about his presence.

What was a human being doing there? The interest was mutual, and their interactions evolved into friendships.

 Geoffroy got to know each deer as a unique individual; complex relationships developed as they cooperated with each other, living side by side for seven years.

 Roe deer have the ability to tell the difference between good and evil, or between those who wish them well and those who wish to do them harm.

 Geoffroy Delorme learned as much as he could from the deer.  He adopted their sleeping habits and gained insights from them about the ways he could support his own nutrition; similarly, Geoffroy was able to guide the deer to safety at times, when hunters tried to attack them. Surviving in the forest was not an easy feat. Winter is harsh, and Geoffroy shares the details on how he was able to endure the season. It is also made harder by the way humans destroy the forests, threatening the sources of food needed to survive and thrive.

“Adaptation to the natural environment is a long process that demands patience. Your metabolism changes. Your mind changes. Your reflexes change. Everything changes, but slowly.”

 It was human encroachment what pushed him out of the forest after seven years of living in the forests in France. His need to speak up for the deer and the forest compelled him to write Deer Man.

 “The forest brings us food and medicine. Without it, our landscapes would be nothing but desolation, and life would be reduced to the most total silence. It is the forest that purifies the atmosphere and allows us to breathe the oxygen indispensable to all living creatures”.

 The experience of living side by side with his deer friends taught him a lot about himself, and he dedicated this book to Chevy:

 “To Chevy, my best friend.

You taught me to live, to feel, to love,

To believe that everything was possible,

And to become myself.”

 

 I cried many times with Deer Man and I’m sure other readers cried too. This book warms the heart and educates the mind. Inspiring and mesmerizing, Deer Man will hopefully instill in peoples’ consciousness the wisdom to guide themselves toward respectful empathic choices, to genuinely honor life through their own humane behaviors. Jane Goodall makes it clear in one line: “Read this book and enter into another world.”

 You can learn more about Geoffroy Delorme’s forest experiences by checking this fascinating conversation at the Greystone Books site.

 

Healing Comes from Within

 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

 Every day is an invitation to make choices that help us grow; every day is an opportunity to be kind to ourselves and to others.

 Today’s post is about healing.

 Among other medical conditions, Isabelle Adolfsson had malignant melanoma for which she required two surgeries. She received excellent medical care to treat her condition, but healing is not limited to the effects of a medical treatment.

  Healing comes from within. It comes from us being in a good place, doing what we feel is right for us. It comes from us leading a life that feels in tune with our heart and soul.

  Her book Healing Comes from Within reveals the details of her spiritual journey as she navigated various life challenges.

  Due to a condition called alopecia universalis, Isabelle lost all her hair over time. Her grace and wisdom through the situations she had to encounter make the read engrossing. Her own story becomes a spiritual sanctuary to ponder upon one’s own life story.

  Her spiritual memoir is written in the form of a journal, and it can be compared to a precious delicate quilt whose patches assemble to form a beautiful composite. I believe the gems of her wisdom stem from her love for life, Nature and people. 

 From her experiences she built physical, mental and spiritual resilience, the core themes of her memoir. Isabelle has a lot to be thankful for; celebrating the bright side of her journey inspires her to move forward with hope.

Isabelle has a rich spiritual life, but what is spirituality?

Spirituality is love,

Spirituality is knowing that we all come from the same source,

Spirituality comes from within,

It comes from your soul,

It comes from the heart,

Spirituality comes from knowing that

We are all one.

 The aura of her spiritual memoir swathes the soul of the reader. It is the warmth that the concept of love offers. Love means respecting boundaries and understanding others. Love is being genuinely happy for others’ happiness. The concept of “mudita” comes to my mind as I type these words. “Mudita” in Sanskrit means finding joy in the happiness of others… I wrote about this word when I published my post on loving-kindness, a few years ago. Strangely enough, there is no word in the English language for the word "mudita"… why? 

 “When you feel true happiness for others, your own happiness increases. When that happens, your own personal growth accelerates.” Richard Belton

 

Here's a reflection from Healing Comes from Within:

 By accepting people for who they are you are setting them free to lead their life. You give them a chance to walk their path. This is the most beautiful thing we can do for another human being. This is the gift of love.

   Her reflection brought to my mind some situations from my past that taught me a lot about self-respect and the importance of standing my ground. If somebody who calls himself or herself your “friend” does not respect your boundaries by  humiliating you in various ways for your life choices, you can conclude  that that person is not your genuine friend, even when you have tried to focus on the goodness in that person. It is an act of kindness toward yourself to let go of that relationship. In doing so, you are not only supporting your emotional and physical health, but also the health of your loved ones.

Setting boundaries is an act of kindness.

 I was intrigued to learn that Isabelle has a twin sister--I’ve always found twins fascinating—and I thought she was going to share more about their relationship.

 Isabelle’s spiritual memoir empowers you to follow your inner wisdom; it encourages you to align your purpose with something greater than yourself.

 There are some gentle meditation exercises to find comfort and peace within yourself.

 Everybody needs to cultivate inner peace to face life challenges. Amid the chaos of the world, balance and inner peace are essential to maintain the focus on our intention.

 Do I agree with everything Isabelle expresses? No, I don’t, but I don’t need to agree on every statement to enjoy a book.

  We will always have disagreements in life, but I think it is crucial to disagree from a place of love, tolerance and cooperation; this book will inspire you to do that.

 

 Courage is to walk your path,

Courage is to do what you feel is right in your heart and soul.

Courage is to stand up for yourself

Even when questioned.

 

I thank the author for sharing her spiritual memoir with me for My Writing Life blog. Isabelle lives in Gothenburg, Sweden.

   I am honored to receive emails by authors from all over the world. I cannot answer every single email or read every book I am offered, but I do feel thankful for each and very reader who cares to reach out.

 Books connect people in meaningful ways.

 I will conclude this post with Isabelle’s words:

 This is what life is about: to love, to live, to understand that all of us are part of everything together. We all play our part in this beautiful dance. We all have our choices to make in order to participate in creating a better world.

 Today I received a devastating report from Amnesty International explaining that Russian forces are separating Ukrainian children from their families:

Amnesty investigations have uncovered devastating tactics by Russian forces that likely amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In occupied areas of Ukraine, Russian forces have been forcibly transporting civilians to Russia or Russian-occupied territories using torture and other ill-treatment: ·  Civilians are forced through an invasive screening process called ‘filtration,’ meaning they’re subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, and other ill-treatment, including being beaten, electroshocked and threatened with execution: That constitutes war crimes of unlawful confinement, torture and inhuman treatment. ·  Children are being separated from their families after forcible transfer: That’s a violation of international humanitarian law. ·  Older people and people with disabilities appear to have been placed in institutions in Russia or Russian-occupied areas, making it difficult for them to leave Russia or to reunite with family members: That’s a violation of their human rights. We’re hearing devastating stories from children as young as 11, including one boy who told us:

“They took my mom to another tent. She was being questioned… They told me I was going to be taken away from my mom… I was shocked... They didn’t say anything about where my mom was going. A lady from Novoazovsk [child protection] service said maybe my mom would be let go… I didn’t get to see my mom... I have not heard from her since.”

How can anybody support a dictator like Vladimir Putin? Shame on his “friends” and supporters across the world. They have a lot of soul searching to do.

 My heart is with these children and their families. My heart is with the people suffering the horrendous consequences of Putin's cruel, inexcusable invasion of Ukraine. I also think of the courage and kindness of those who volunteered to fight for the freedom of Ukraine. 

 I hope these Ukrainian children and their families will get all the help they can get, and I hope the world stops empowering toxic men like Vladimir Putin. 

 

The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis

 

“Someone once wondered why it is that if a work of man is destroyed, it is called vandalism, but if a work of nature is destroyed it is often called progress.”

Jane Goodall, Seeds of Hope

We only know about 9 percent of the 2.2 million species that inhabit the ocean. This means that about 91 percent is unknown to us. There is a complex elusive world under attack by us, humans, as we continue to dump plastic, fertilizers, toxic metals, pesticides, sewage, agricultural runoff, oil, etc. These chemicals kill and contaminate the fish that feed three billion people. Coastal pollution leads to the spread of infections; oil spills and various chemicals compromise the oxygen supply of ocean creatures.

  Phytoplankton are single-celled creatures that produce 50-80 percent of the oxygen on earth, so protecting oceans is tied to our own survival. Along with tropical, temperate, and boreal forests, phytoplankton make up the “lungs” of the planet.

 The warming of the oceans as a result of industrialization affects life in the sea. Warm water holds less oxygen, and the requirement for oxygen at warmer temperatures increases, so this creates a deficient supply for living beings in the sea. Furthermore, I already wrote about the acidification of the oceans due to the high emission of carbon dioxide by human activities when I reviewed the book Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson. In my post, I also explained what corals are and the bleaching that takes place when the water is too warm.

  The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis, by Christina Conklin and Marina Psaros, details some of the challenges and transformations that various places are facing as a result of pollution and climate change, two issues that are inextricably interwoven.

   There is a chapter for each individual place; the authors explore the environmental issues and how they are affecting the economy. There is a section about their projections for the year 2050. In other words, in that section of the chapter the writers pretend that they are already in the year 2050, and they describe the outcome of the situation.

 The places portrayed and explored in the book include the following: Kure Atoll, Hawaii; the Arabian Sea; Camden, Maine; the Cook Islands; San Francisco Bay; Houston, Texas; New York city; Hamburg, Germany; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Kutupalong Camp, Bangladesh; The Arctic Ocean; Pisco, Peru; The North Atlantic Ocean; Ise, Japan; Kisite, Kenya; Pine Island Glacier; Shangai, China; The Thames Estuary, Britain; Ben Tre, Vietnam; and Hampton Roads, Virginia.

The book addresses the need to act to create a habitable future on earth for our descendants.

 Kisite, Kenya, is one of the places described:

For decades, the diversity and bounty of Kenya’s small-scale fisheries have been in decline. Unsustainable fishing practices-including cyanide to stun fish; bottom trawling to scrape from the seafloor into big nets; and exceeding (or failing to set) quotas on threatened fish species—are some of the culprits. Kenya has worked hard over the past few decades to better protect its wildlife, including designing a number of new marine protected areas that aren’t protected (MPAs). These areas, which restrict extractive activities, show increased biodiversity and larger numbers of fish over areas that are not protected.

 Even though Kenya has attained some degree of success, it is still seeing declines in fish and the degradation of coral reefs as a result of ocean warming, polluted runoff from coastal towns, and illegal fishing activity. This has deleterious effects for the thousands of subsistence fishers in Kenya, and it impacts tourism as well.

Perhaps the greatest feat of the book is to spur us to do our part to work toward a better outcome. Every individual action matters; each day is an opportunity to learn and improve, to lead the path toward a better future. Policies also matter. Voting is crucial to make sure that we support measures that care about the quality of the air and the water, so contact your representatives and inform yourself. It is an ethical responsibility to remember, no matter where you live.

 

There are many interesting facts that will help remind people to make better choices each and every day:

 We wash eight million tons of plastic into the ocean each year, and even countries with good waste management recycle very little of it—just 30 percent in Europe and 9 percent in the United States of America. By 2050, one major study projects, if we continue on the same consumption trajectory, there will be a pound of plastic in the ocean for every pound of fish.

 Chemicals in plastic, such as bisphenol A and phthalates, are endocrine disruptors and they cause cancer in humans. They also harm animals in the sea. It takes over five hundred years for plastic to break down, and the tiny particles remain in the environment, having an impact on marine life and our own health.

 Here's a recent report on the possible effects of microplastics on the brain.

    Placing plastic in the recycling bin is not a guarantee that it will get recycled. According to a recent article in the Smithsonian Magazine, only 5 percent of the total plastic met the conditions to get recycled during the year 2021 in the United States of America. Hence, it is necessary to reduce or avoid the use of plastic altogether.

  Despite our differences, we all want and need clean water and air, so we should do more to protect the planet. We depend on the existence of healthy soil as well. Yes, clean energy is crucial; conservation is paramount.

 The only aspect I did not like about the book is the authors’ utilitarian view of animals. I think they could have offered another perspective on this, one based on the current scientific research, to promote empathic solutions…

 What will our descendants say about us in a hundred years? It will depend on our actions in the 2020s…

I came across this lovely quote this past week:

The quote concludes that the earth is sacred, so we should treat her with respect and align our actions with this ethical principle. We are the Earth; the Earth is us. We know that when we harm the Earth and other creatures, we are harming ourselves.

 

The quote reminded me of the speech by Chief Seattle, a Suquamish chief. My mother shared it with me when I was little, and it has become relevant today:

“The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? 

The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same family. The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. 

 To read the full speech, you can go here.

 

I will publish my next post on November 11.

Enjoy the ride on My Writing Life blog.