Tag Archive for loss

36 Million Trees Gone This Year

That happens every year. This massive annual tree loss results in hotter cities, a whole lot more pollution, and unhealthy humans. Some causes we can’t do much about–fire, hurricanes, disease, insects. What is under our control, though, is cutting down trees for more parking lots, buildings, and roads.

Why care about the loss of trees? Because trees provide many essential benefits: 1) heat reduction, 2) energy emissions reduction, 3) water quality improvement, 4) flooding reduction, 5) noise reduction, 6) protection from UV radiation, 7) improved aesthetics, 8) improved human health, 9) wildlife habitat.

To find out exactly how trees do all those things, plus how we can plan for trees and help stop the loss of trees, read US cities are losing 36 million trees a year. Here’s why it matters and how you can stop it.

Hearing Loss: A Double Imprisonment

Imagine having hearing problems.  Now imagine you’re in prison.  And there’s nothing to help you hear anything that’s going on.  Which excludes you from much that keeps you sane and occupied during your incarceration, like activities, religious services, and vocational and rehabilitation programs and classes. AND endangers your relationships with non-incarcerated family and friends because you can’t talk to them on the phone.

That’s what’s been happening in South Carolina–and maybe elsewhere.  The Dept. of Justice just reached an agreement with them in that the South Carolina Dept. of Corrections will now provide sign language interpreters and aids that will ensure that inmates can participate in the programs that will help rehabilitate them and get them ready for life outside.  An important addition is telecommunications services that will let them communicate with the family and friends that they’ll return to.

If these are really departments of correction rather than departments of vengeance, inmates must be given the opportunity to reform–all inmates, including the hearing impaired.

An Equalizing Thought

Today’s Thursday Thought is an equalizer.  Instead of putting people on pedestals or ignoring them as beneath us, we’re reminded that, essentially, we’re all traveling the same road.

 

Quenching Compassion: A Plea to Readers

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for awhile, you know that I believe in the power of the human family when we join together to make this world a better place for all of us.  So I’m calling on your help now.

My state (CA) is burning up.  We have so many individual wildfires that they’re combining to make larger, more deadly, destructive ones.  And hot weather with blustery winds.  And a drought, with little or no rain.

People are losing everything they have.  They’re learning that they must find someplace else to live until they can rebuild their homes–and that insurance may cover only 10% of the cost.  Pets and livestock are lost or consumed by flames. Human lives are lost, both residents and fire-fighters.

What I ask of you is to send the human spirit of compassion and unity into the universe, asking for en end to the fires, adequate quenching and rejuvenating rain, and safety for all involved.  If you believe in prayer, do that.  Otherwise, send out good vibes, happy thoughts, and poisitive feelings.  Expect results.

This isn’t magic, just family ties.

 

Weight–Loss News

We can pig out twice a day! New studies show that by eating two large meals a day we can lose just as much weight as with the weight-loss rule of the past, 6 small meals a day (same calorie-intake in both approaches).  This came on the same news-stream as the story that Twinkies will be back on store shelves the middle of July.  Now, I’m no weight-loss guru, but I’d be willing to bet that the first news doesn’t factor in twice-a-day Twinkies for dessert.

So, which news is a cautionary tale for our national obesity epidemic….?