Halfway Into The Wild

For those who have read John Krakauer's book Into the Wild, and/or have seen the movie, my goal of making it into "The Bus", in spite of two previous failed attempts, makes perfect sense. The story of 22 year old Chris McCandless and his adventures as he ran away from society and his family in an attempt to find something or some way of living that made sense to him resonates strongly for many wilderness-oriented people in Alaska (after all, that is why we live here). I first read the book in 1997, shortly after it was published, when I lived in Missoula, and found it an excellent read, and very thought-provoking. Many people have criticized Chris for being stupid and unprepared as he made his way from Fairbanks, south along the Parks highway, heading for his hike in on the Stampede Trail. And if he done some studying of the area, he would have found it easy to work his way back out from the bus where he met his end, 8 miles east of the Teklanika River, on the Stampede trail. This bus had been driven out there many years ago and used by hunters as shelter, when he came upon it in the spring of 1992. When some local people have belittled him and his unfortunate demise, I reminded them of how courageous he really was. I certainly would never hop freight trains in the middle of the night. Or come into Los Angeles with nothing, no job and very little money, not knowing a soul. Or, kayak the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, without any previous experience! He was hard on his family, cutting them off from contact, and I'm sure he had his reasons, but that is the only thing I feel he did that was "stupid", for lack of a better word. His feelings of alienation from our materialistic society were shared by me, and most of my friends, at different times in our lives, he just decided to do something about it, which turned out badly.

My first failed attempt out the Stampede trail was early last March, with my friend Erik. It was a beautiful mild sunny day, right around freezing. We skied in on classic touring skis at about noon. Unfortunately, the coordinates we had obtained were false, from Google Earth, someone must have deliberately put misleading ones in. I hadn't read the book in ten years or so, so forgot that the bus is really just 8 miles past the Teklanika River, or about 20 miles from the end of the driveable section of the trail, on the trail. The coordinates we had put it just east of the Savage River, 10 miles in, about a mile north of the Stampede Trail. So we got to the Savage River quickly, and went up a mile, then ski-whacked through thick black spruce and alder, trying to find the bus. After a couple hours of that, thrashing around blindly, which wore us out, we headed back.

My second attempt was in mid-April, I camped out near 8-mile lake to get an early start in the morning. It was about 15 degrees when I packed up to get ready for my ski. My little husky/lab mix Mattie was with me. It was a bright sunny spring day, and unfortunately, by the time we got to the Savage River, 10 miles in, the snow turned to slop as it warmed up to near 45 degrees. By the time I had lunch, the slop on the trail was 4-6 inches deep, and unski-able because my kick zone would clog up with the sticky stuff. So I had to just shuffle along as best I could. I decided to turn back, and it took me over five hours to get back, after taking just 2 hours to get in.

This time, I thought, maybe a fall attempt would work, if the rivers were low enough. My goal was to fast-pack in and out the 38 or so miles in 10-14 hours. It was a quick 90 mile drive south on the Parks Highway to just north of Healy, where the Stampede trail takes off to the west. The fall colors were out in full display, and the south chinook winds were blowing, warming the temperature up to 50-55 degrees. We had a very wet summer this year though, July through mid-August, so I wasn't sure how that would play out. Also, freezing levels had come down to around 6000 feet; the Teklanika River, the biggest one to ford, and the one that prevented Chris from getting out in July and August, 1992 is glacial-fed, it's flow is directly and quickly affected by the amount of glacial melting that occurs in it's headwaters. So those two factors were on my mind when I reached there this last saturday, the 13th of Sept. Unfortunately, the first sections of the trail were a swamp, huge puddles for a couple miles. When the trail reaches the bottom of a draw, about four miles in, and follows two streams, it was then covered in even more water. As you can see above, here is one of the TEN stream crossings on the trail I had to go through in two miles. I had my running shoes on, and my trekking poles, with about 20 lbs. of food/water/clothes in my pack. I was able to run about five of the eight miles in to the Savage River. Though twice, it was so muddy, my left shoe got sucked off my foot, to which I responded with great and creative cursing.

There were some actual nice sections of trail, as you can see here, where the footing was excellent, and on these I was able to keep running at a comfortable 8-9 mile/minute pace. But these sections were fairly short. We got to the Savage River in about 90 min., and I knew it wasn't going to be easy further on. The Savage is normally not that big, but I had to go upstream a ways to find a decent ford. It was running fast, and when I crossed, was almost up to my knees. But we pressed on, and just about a half-mile from the Teklanika River, I ran into two guys who were also trying to make it to the bus. They turned back, saying the river was too high, dangerous even. Of course I had to see for myself, so we ran further and got to the Teklanika.


Here it is. Running very fast, faster than I can run! And, at least 5 feet deep in the middle. No one is getting across that. So, we walked about a mile upstream to where it splits into four braids. The smallest braid, which we came to, was still running very fast, 3-4 feet deep in the middle, and about ten feet wide. I probably could have jumped that, but then the other braids were faster, deeper, and wider. At this time Mattie plunged into the first braid, and was swept off her feet! She went whirling downstream, and I ran after her. In a few seconds she managed to get her front paws on the bank, and I grabbed her collar and pulled her in. Close call! That was that, we headed back. I decided to try a spur trail on our return that is a little shorter, that cuts across the valley more directly. I had skied on it of course twice in March, and April. As you can see, it just looks like grass/tundra. But what it really is, is a giant bog. This three mile section was very arduous, mostly underwater, and even the higher tussocks were soggy. Slow going. Oh well, it was worth a try.

Here is what the majority of the rest of the trail looked like, heading back. One big sloppy mud puddle essentially. Not having been here before in the summer, I had to wonder, is it always like
that during the warm season? Or was our wet July/August mainly responsible. It had rained a couple of days before this outing in the area, but it didn't seem like alot, from the data I saw.

One other factor, which may have been responsible for the high water in the Teklanika River was snowmelt. As you can see, there was snow on the peaks above about 5000 feet, which was all melting. This certainly didn't work in my favor.

When we got back to my trusty Ford Escape and I began loading all my wet muddy gear up, I looked back and got a peak of part of Denali through the clouds. So, even though my third bus attempt was hindered by the high water on the Teklanika River, seeing sights like this, made it all worthwhile. It was a short 8 hour trail day, but my feet were battered and bruised from the cobblestones on the Stampede Trail, and I had a minor case of trenchfoot, from them being soaked all day. This just makes me more determined to finish the job. Which is going to happen in this coming February or March. When I have a day off, and the temperature is between +10 and freezing. Then, I can ski the 40 mile round trip in 10 hours or so. It's not steep, and at those temperatures, the snow conditions will be optimal. And of course, I'll just slide right across those rivers and that boggy tundra.

Is it 9/11 already?

September in interior Alaska. One of my favorite months here. Fall color, the sound and sights of the cranes and geese taking wing for their long flight south to their winter refuges in the lower 48. The bugs are gone and so are most of the tourists. Nights are cool and long enough for the Northern Lights to show when skies clear. A month of rapid change here, by month's end the trees will be bare, and a few snow flakes will be falling on the cold, semi-frozen ground. Enjoy it while it lasts!




Unfortunately there is one day this month that is more difficult to enjoy than the others. We all know what day that is. However, there is another 9/11 worth studying, one that brought tragedy, death, and destruction to thousands of people on another continent, in the year 1973. It was followed by many more years of savage political repression when thousands more lost their lives, many preceded by incomprehensible torture. The continent was South America, and the country was Chile.



A country not frequented or much thought of by many Americans at the time. But changes were taking place in that country in the late 1960s. A left-wing government, led by Salvador Allende, was elected in 1970, in free and fair elections. Their government began to implement measures to try and help alleviate the massive poverty present then, by nationalizing certain industrial concerns, amongst other things. The U.S. government even before his election was already interfering in the internal affairs of Chile, and after Allende's election, these processes were ramped up by the Nixon administration. The three years from 1970-73 in that country were very turbulent, in no small part due to active measures planned and financed from Washington D.C. , at the behest of various U.S. corporate interests. Anaconda Mining, ITT, and many others.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Terrorism/Chile%20Coup_USHand.html
http://www.namebase.org/chile.html

When right-wing elements of the Chilean military, headed by General Augusto Pinochet, finally were able to implement their coup, on 11 September, 1973, they began with aerial bombardment of the Presidential Palace in Santiago. Then Pinochet's men swarmed through the city, seizing key sites, and invading the Presidential Palace. Allende's bodyguards put up a fierce fight, but to no avail, they were outnumbered and outgunned. When Allende knew his time was coming to an end, he gave a moving last speech to the nation:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende%27s_Last_Speech
He then shot himself in the head, not wanting to be captured alive by Pinochet's troops.

Thousands of Allende supporters and "suspected leftists" were rounded up and put in the National Stadium in downtown Santiago on that and ensuing days. Over the next several months, they were all "processed" and most were never seen again. Pinochet's absolute rule of Chile and his fascist reign of terror continued in that poor country until 1990.

When I lived in Missoula, MT, sometime around 1996 or 1997, an interesting thing happened. Overnight, someone had stencil-painted a "Walk of Shame" on the sidewalk on the Higgins Street Bridge. The main bridge crossing the Clark Fork River from the University of Montana and residential districts, to downtown. It was a listing of American military interventions in and governmental subversions of different countries, from 1898 to the present. It was a very long list, I don't even remember most of them, though a few stood out. Specifically, Iran 1953, which was aided by the CIA because the current freely elected government was planning on nationalizing the oilfields in their country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d
Think how different the Middle East would be today if the popularly elected secular government of Mohammed Mossadeq overthrown then had remained. Instead the 25 year repressive rule of the Shah, beginning in 1954, supported by the U.S., directly lead to their fundamentalist Islamic Revolution in 1979, and was the inspiration for many other similar movements in the region.

I was last in Missoula in 2005, and the "Walk of Shame" was still there! Some of the countries listed on it I had heard of and understood what had happened, this country's role in. I then read a book written in 1930 by Brig.Gen. Smedley Butler, USMC, called "War is a Racket".
http://www.amazon.com/War-Racket-Antiwar-Americas-Decorated/dp/0922915865/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221011878&sr=1-1
This amazing short book, written by the Marine Corps general, describes his experiences on military expeditions to Central and Latin American countries in the 1910s and 1920s in support of U.S. corporate and financial interests. He then listed all the industries directly benefitting from these wars and expeditions undertaken up to that time, and proposed solutions for the U.S. militarism that even then was plaguing the other countries of the western hemisphere. A sobering reading, made all the more by how relevant it still is, unfortunately, today.

I came across this article the other day.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/09/04-2

The U.S. has 761 active military installations in different countries! Our defense budget is greater than all the rest of the countries of the World combined, and eight times that of China's, the second largest spender. The illegal, immoral, and criminal invasion and occupation of the sovereign nation of Iraq **, which posed no threat to this or any other country, only added to that. The invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, supposedly undertaken to apprehend the criminals who perpretated the attacks on this country seven years ago, still is no closer to it's stated goal, and seems to be spreading into Pakistan.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/09/09-1
With our government continuing actions like this, and threatening other countries that pose no threat to us, like Iran, and even Russia, how much longer will it be, before this country is attacked again? Maybe that's what the neo-fascists want who are in the current administration. War without end is good for corporate profits and the maintenance and expansion of their grip on power. In addition to allowing their stated goal of elimination of any socially-oriented governmental programs by bankrupting the country unless they are cut because of ever-increasing defense spending, which politicians are too afraid to reign in. Health care, Social Security, Education, etc.. Is this what we want? Do we want a country we can be proud of, that is a force for good here and in the rest of the World, like it could be, or one that is reviled throughout the World, a militarized police state, as we are becoming now. The choice is ours.

** Investigative Reporter Greg Palast, in his book, Armed Madhouse, after interviewing numerous U.S. governmental officials (posing as an oil industry researcher), and oil industry figures, states that the invasion and occupation of Iraq was undertaken, with Saudi Arabia's blessing.
http://www.amazon.com/Armed-Madhouse-Baghdad-Orleans-Sordid-Secrets/dp/0452288312/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221014040&sr=1-1

Not so much to gain direct control and ownership of Iraq's oil, but to eliminate Sadam Hussein's control of it, as he was causing too much instability in the pricing of oil by his manipulation of Iraq's production/export. In addition, for all the usual other benefits, raised oil prices for oil industry profit expansion, other military-industrial corporate profits, and rallying of the masses around the administration as they scapegoated Iraq for the 9/11 attacks.

Pinnell Mountain Fast-Pack, Friday 8/29/08

What is fast-packing? Simply put, it is just backpacking with lighter loads than typical for multi-day outings, allowing you to cover 25 to 35 miles or more in a day. Average speeds are typically just 2 to 3 mph, unless you plan on running parts of the route. Twenty pounds or less are the ideal for the fast-packer, as this smaller amount of weight affords you more mobility, less fatigue in the shoulders, and less stress on the knees and feet. A brisk 25 to 35 mile fast-pack on a steep, rocky route will give you a good workout, comparable to running a marathon, but without as much pounding on the joints, along with some inspiring and refreshing wilderness access. For those of us who enjoy endurance athletic activities, such as long-distance running, skiing, or biking, it is a great tool for maintaining our fitness as well as getting away from the daily routine. And given the vagaries and uncertainties of Alaskan environmental conditions, it can also provide you with unexpected and significant challenges.

I decided to do the Pinnell Mountain trail, as I had fast-packed the only other nearby similar trail, Chena Dome, back in May and had a great time. Pinnell is 27.3 miles, whereas Chena Dome was 31. Located on the Steese Highway, it has two trailheads, one at milepost 86 (12 Mile Summit) and milepost 106 (Eagle Summit). This one I did alone in late August. I couldn’t bring intrepid little Mattie because I had to stash my bicycle at one end of the trail (12-Mile Summit), and bike the 20 miles back along the highway, to my car, where I started the hike, at Eagle Summit.

The Pinnell Mountain and Chena Dome trails are classic interior Alaska tundra hikes, very rocky with occasional marshy or tussocky sections in saddles and low points, but expansive views in all directions on the summits. One thing to keep in mind with both of these is wind. It is almost always windy in these exposed areas, and if even what would seem to be a minor weather disturbance to us in the lowlands near Fairbanks moves in, fog and cold windy rain or snow will occur at these higher exposed elevations. Which is why extra layers, hat, gloves, maps, and a GPS are essential for your safety. I always check the weather forecasts before I undertake these fast-packs. The best place for accurate weather information and forecasts can be found on the National Weather Service’s web-site at http://pafg.arh.noaa.gov/, or by calling the Alaska Weather Information Line, 800-472-0391 (458-3745 in Fairbanks). You can also look at satellite and radar loops on the NWS web-site to help make your decisions.

The Pinnell Mountain trail, for me at least, was easier than the Chena Dome outing, because the elevation gains are less overall (the start at Eagle Summit is at 3600 feet, and the highest point, Mt. Pinnell is 4934 ft), and the ascents and descents on the steeper slopes are all switchbacked. Thus, I was able to complete the 27.3 miles of it in nine and a half hours, under beautiful sunny skies, in a stiff 15-25 mph cool (40-45 degrees) northeast wind. I kept to a brisk hiking pace the whole route, and just took four short breaks for food/water, and energy drinks, of 5 to 15 minutes each. I did slow down and take pictures at times too. One highlight of the trail was when I descended into the “Swamp Saddle” between miles 14 and 15. There in that marshy saddle were a herd of caribou. I stopped and stayed quiet, and they actually approached me slightly. But when I said hello to them and they realized what I was, they took off running. This section of the trail, through the swamp saddle, is boardwalked, to protect the marshy tundra, and to make for easier footing. There are also some sections of boardwalk in the last mile before you reach 12 Mile Summit. These can be very slippery when wet or frosty, so caution is advised if that occurs.

The fall colors of the tundra were in full view, and this combined with the clear blue skies and craggy rocks, was stunning. Views north across the Yukon Flats and south through the seemingly endless uplands were a patchwork of brown tundra and fall color dropping down to the spruce and yellowing birch/aspen in the lower elevations.

The 20 mile return bike-ride from trails-end at 12-Mile Summit to my vehicle at Eagle Summit took just under two hours. It proved to be quite fun the first 10 miles downhill, slightly invigorating on the next five mile flat section, and highly challenging the last five uphill miles. A stiff headwind and falling temperatures in the 30s, combined with my overall fatigue from the long day of movement, made that quite memorable as I longed for Eagle Summit to come into view in the fading daylight while my feet began freezing (I had extra layers, but just didn’t want to stop). I had started the day at Eagle Summit at around 10 a.m., and it was near 10 p.m. when I returned to the sanctuary of my vehicle, heat, and warm, dry clothing. Like Chena Dome, Pinnell Mountain Trail is not very heavily used, especially well in from either trailhead. Hence, on the Friday before Labor Day, during my outing, I did not see a single person at any time. And, there are a few sections where the thin, rocky trail disappears and you just navigate to the next cairn or pylon in sight.

All in all, the day's outing went very well, no injuries, blisters, good weather, what more could I ask for? Now back to reality. While driving home at midnight, tired, but satisfied with my trip, I kept thinking about the craziness of this election season, and likely how little things will really change next year, even if the neo-fascist Republicans don't maintain their grip.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/09/02-0

http://http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/09/03-3

This is a good speech by Tom Hayden, given to activists at the Democratic Convention in Denver. While I feel his basic points are valid, he fails to go far enough. I can't vote for Obama, because neither he nor the Democratic party will acknowledge what has happened in the past 8 years as leading to the destruction of this country and its descent toward fascism, and indeed, have voted for and supported most of the worst events. The erosion of civil liberties (Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act), and the illegal, immoral, criminal invasion of Iraq. A country that was known by the administration to pose no threat to this or any other country, and which so far has cost the lives of upwards of a million innocent Iraqi civilians. All impeachable offenses, yet impeachment remains "off the table", thanks to Nancy Pelosi. http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/

So, I'm supporting Cindy Sheehan in her maverick run for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat, and voting for Green party candidates this fall. Sure, we all know third parties in this country haven't a chance, given the corporate media's deliberate exclusion and ridicule of them, but we have to start somewhere. http://www.cindyforcongress.org/

Alaska Range Getaway, mid-August 2008

http://www.commondreams.org/

http://prorev.com/

http://counterpunch.org/

I'll just lay it out right here. The corporate media that most people in the USA are exposed to reflect the opinions of the large conglomerates that own them, and only show that which is deemed appropriate for the masses, such that no significant changes or upsets to the system result. So, I do not routinely look at CNN, Fox News, Time, Newsweek, or any of those "mainstream" media. The links above, and print magazines such as Utne Reader and The Progressive serve as my outlets for viewing the World at large. I do look at the USA edition of BBC news, as it actually has more news content than celebrity fluff, and is good for rapid-fire current events.

After hard days of keeping abreast of all that's going on, sometimes I just need to get away! And fortunately, that's very easy to do here in Alaska. In mid-August, my sweet little 18 month old lab/husky mix Mattie and I decided we needed some time away.

So we took a 3-day backpack trip in mid-August this year into the Alaska Range, southeast of Fairbanks. We just drove east to Big Delta to the Richardson Highway, south on that to the Denali Highway (about 75 miles). The Denali highway is a well-maintained gravel road that cuts due east-west south of the crest of the Alaska Range. Before the building of the Parks Highway, that connects Fairbanks to Anchorage directly, in the early 1970s, this the only way to travel from Fairbanks to Denali National Park. It is a great place to start wilderness outings, and you can even skate ski on it's entire 160 mile length in winter, as snow-machine traffic grooms it into a wide, level surface.

We parked at MacClaren Summit, the highest point on the road, at around 4100 feet. This is above tree-line, marshy tundra, full of tussocks (raised clumps of tundra, often with water between, often making for hard walking), ponds, and small lakes. Bug hell in June and July, but better in August and September.

I just strapped my 30 lb. pack on with supplies for 3 days, and we walked in to a nameless pond about six miles north of the highway, hopping on the tussocks, which made my knees a little sore. I set up camp, by then it was evening, and had a nice relaxing meal with Mattie in that peaceful setting. It was cool, about 45 degrees, and sprinkling a little.

The next day, I just kept camp where it was, but packed all the food up and took it in the pack with me while we explored. We walked about 4 miles north and climbed some ridges above Seven-mile Lake, giving us expansive views of it below. At one point, as we were on the north face of one ridge above the lake, we heard snorting, and the clacking of hooves. Caribou. Lots of them, and only about 50 feet away, directly above us. Hunting is not allowed north of the Denali Highway, so they are not so afraid of people.

We spent the day exploring, covering about fifteen miles total, winding up and down ridges. We had lunch by Basalt Lake, a small lake ringed by rocky crags. Although it was only mid-August, summer is fleeting at these higher elevations, and some fall colors are already evident. There were plenty of gnats and mosquitoes when the east winds would let up occasionally. Fortunately this day, the weather was nice, just partly cloudy and cool. We got back to our camp around 6 pm, and I noticed showers were starting to develop. By 7pm, a thundershower moved over, and it rained hard for 90 minutes. Mattie had to stay outside in the rain, she doesn't like tents. As the rain let up, I heard a snorting sound outside, and movement, and I thought, crap, a bear. I bolted out of the tent, and a large bull caribou was staring at us about 40 feet away. I don't think he liked that we were in his domain. Before I could stop her, Mattie took off barking at him! All 64 pounds of her against a 300 pound creature with large antlers. Fortunately he took off. We were lucky, as they can fight off wolves if they have to. That made me very proud of my little girl, she's sure courageous and protective.


After that, I was able to relax and cook dinner, by which time it was already 9 pm. I slept well that night, knowing that Mattie was on the job!


I packed up in the morning, and we hiked back to the car at MacClaren summit. That only took us a couple hours. One reason I went in this area, is that it is well above the rivers, where the salmon are running. The bears are all down lower by the rivers at this time, so the odds of any encounters are much lower up high. And, we never did see one. All in all, a nice, quick getaway, without having to do much in the way of elaborate preparation. I don't carry (or own) any guns, and have no bear spray, I just put trust in my higher self to keep me safe, and no problems. Just as I don't carry a water filter, I bless the water I drink from clear flowing streams as life-giving and never get sick.

WELCOME TO THE ALASKA PROGRESSIVE REVIEW!

Welcome to the Alaska Progressive Review!

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
pro·gres·sive
–adjective

1. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, esp. in political matters: a progressive mayor.
2. making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.: a progressive community.
3. characterized by such progress, or by continuous improvement.
4. of or pertaining to any of the Progressive parties in politics.

lib·er·al
-adjective

1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.
3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.
4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.
6. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
7. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.
8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

Michael Richmond here. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, and have since June, 2001. Before that, in Juneau, AK for the previous three years. And before that, in Missoula, Montana, from 1990-98. A university-oriented town that has a vibrant counter-culture, and which was a great influence upon my adult personality.

This is not just a blog for travel and adventure postings. Those are always a good thing, and you'll see plenty of that here. But I also want to inject incisive political commentary, from a liberal/green Alaskan perspective. Many people, especially recently, think of Alaskans as selfish, conservative/gun/hunting nuts with little exposure to outside ideas and perspectives. Sure, we have our share of those types, as does any state in the USA. As a whole, Alaskans are kind and friendly people, who care about their neighbors. Because we have to, in our sometimes harsh and unforgiving environment.

To get started, I'd like to introduce one my favorite writings, from an unfortunately very prophetic novel written in 1993, by an author named Starhawk. The book:

THE FIFTH SACRED THING

Declaration of the Four Sacred Things

"The earth is a living, conscious being. In company with cultures of many different times and places, we name these things as sacred: air, fire, water, and earth.

Whether we see them as the breath, energy, blood, and body of the Mother, or as the blessed gifts of a Creator, or as symbols of the interconnected systems that sustain life, we know that nothing can live without them.

To call these things sacred is to say that they have a value beyond their usefulness for human ends, that they themselves become the standards by which our acts, our economics, our laws, and our purposes must be judged. No one has the right to appropriate them or profit from them at the expense of others. Any government that fails to protect them forfeits its legitimacy.

All people, all living things, are part of the earth life, and so are sacred. No one of us stands higher or lower than any other. Only justice can assure balance: only ecological balance can sustain freedom. Only in freedom can that fifth sacred thing we call spirit flourish in full diversity.

To honor the sacred is to create conditions in which nourishment, sustenance, habitat, knowledge, freedom, and beauty can thrive. To honor the sacred is to make love possible.

To this we dedicate our curiosity, our will, our courage, our silences, and our voices. To this we dedicate our lives."

Vaya con Dios

Miguel