Peace and the Planet (Part 5 of 5 of "Creating Peace")

In order to live in a peaceful world, we need to treat our planet, Gaia, with the respect, love, and attention to her sustenance with which we treat our children. Climate change is the result of mistreating our amazing planet. Climate change is about changing weather patterns that make it hard for people to find drinking water for their children, that create flooding of homes and agriculture land, and that wither our crops under relentless sun.

When people are hungry or thirsty, violence can easily erupt over food and water. Not just in Dafur but everywhere including the gathering.  How then do we show with our actions that we are actively working to protect Gaia from climatic changes that threaten world (and local) peace?

Reduce the number of campfires. Burning carbon increases global warming. Plus if you see the cloud of wood smoke in main meadow at a gathering, you'll realize that reducing the number of campfires will improve the health of every gathering participant. Click here to learn more about the negative impacts of campfires on human and planetary health.

Reduce/reuse/recycle - adopt a zero waste lifestyle. Only buy products that you will consume or that will last you for a long time. For example, buy rice in bulk with reusable containers instead of throw away plastic packaging. Buy reusable forks and knives for a gathering not single use plastics. Packaging and throw away junk contributes to climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that by cutting the amount of waste we generate back to 1990 levels, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11.6 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE), the basic unit of measure for greenhouse gases. To learn more about how what you buy creates climate change, click here.

Plus the less stuff you bring to a gathering, the less stuff YOU need to haul out when you leave. You would be amazed at the amount of camping gear that gets left behind at a gathering.  Re-use that tent or find a loving home for it if you do not want it anymore. Don't leave it behind for the cleanup crew.  YOU are the clean up crew. The less we buy and bring to the gathering, the less clean up we have to do. Buy food in bulk, bring gear to keep you warm and dry and forgot about the rest. Recycling of aluminum cans takes energy which contributes to climate change.  Use reusable stainless steel containers for your beverages and stop giving your money to the multi-national conglomerates like Pepsi and Coca Cola who don't care about the seventh generation and are wrecking your health and the health of the planet.

Put your money where your mouth is. Walk your talk.  We can change this world by spending our money in ways that create the change we want to see in this world. Shop at your local co-ops. Buy locally grown produce. We can make a difference, one person, one family, one clan at a time. Let us follow the wisdom of our Lakota siblings and heal this beautiful planet that gives us so much.

We are the people we have been waiting for to create a future for the next generation. How are you going to step up and create the change for which Gaia is praying?

Together we can change our future

On Climate Change and Ride Share

As we all know, burning fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions that over the long haul are changing weather patterns. From less rain on the west coast to more snow on the east coast, we are seeing the impacts.  This blog is dedicated to the annual 4th of July rainbow gathering and not for me to proselytise about issues with which I am actively involved. I live about ten feet above sea level along the coast so my house is going to have to be propped up on stilts like those in the Louisiana Bayou if all human beings on the globe due not get a grip on how we are treating mama earth. All that being said, this is the first of a series of blog posts on gathering related issues that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is climate change?

I'm sure everyone reading this knows that automobile emissions are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.  One of the best steps we can take to help Gaia and ourselves is to engage in ride share on our journeys to and from gatherings so that we burn less gas, burn the gas we burn in cars that get better mileage and make a friend. Every year, people without rides are trying to find rides and those with vehicles are preparing their vehicles to head home. Once we know where home is, bus information to the nearest stop will be posted.  But in the mean time, there are a number of options on hooking up those with rides, but space for a rider or two and those without rides at all


Star's Rainbow ride share board is the oldest web based rainbow ride share board.

Many people have posted on the local Craig's list board for their local city. Google your city name and Craigslist, then under the "community" section, there is a "ride share" section.

Go to your local rainbow potluck, picnic, drum circle and talk to people.

If you Facebook, visit one of the Rainbow Ride Share boards:  Rainbow Ride Share Redone or Rainbow Ride Sharing. Disclaimer: there are probably more of these on Facebook since groups seem to spin up all the time.

Once you've made a connection, take the time to visit with your potential riders at your local coffee shop, community park or co-op and discuss the ground rules. Is smoking in the car acceptable?  Is this going to be a non-stop drive from wherever to home?  Are pets allowed?  Who will be driving (someone with a driver's license and insurance)?  How much is a rider expected to chip in for expenses? Who is paying for motel rooms if that's where you plan to sleep along the way?  What is allowed in the vehicle?

Once you're on the road, be respectful, help out in anyway possible, be safe and don't rush it.

While it's important to start loving all our family en route to the gathering, if you don't feel safe sharing a ride with anyone, just say no.

If you're planning on hitchhiking, use the buddy system, only do it during the day when you can more easily see what kind of a car you're getting into.  If you have a fancy phone, take a snapshot of the license plate and send it to a friend so in case something happens, we know where you were last seen. Only take rides that your gut tells you to take. Better to take three days to make it home and be safe then risk a bad ride.  Remember it is illegal to hitchhike on the interstate in many states including Montana and position yourself where a driver can safely pull over.

Trust your instincts.  If a situation feels unsafe, get yourself to safety ASAP.  We want every belly home in one peace.

Best time to arrive home is before noon. If you're 100 miles from home at 10 PM, crash at a local campground, motel, or friend's house. Then get up at 7 AM and come home.  The last few miles into the gathering are often twisty dirt roads and you may be driving 20 miles per hour.  The hike from where the car is parked to where you decide to set up camp may take one to six hours if you know where you're heading, longer if you're trying to find that just right spot.If you don't normally live at a high elevation, it will take you a few days to get your mountain legs so you'll be moving much slower than usual.

Every year I see intimate relationships take a hit over the stress of the last fifty miles into the gathering, parking, hiking and getting set up.  Why do it when you're exhausted and you're doing it in the dark?  Arrive early in the day and then you'll be able to see where you're driving, hike your gear in more easily, see the how the gathering is disorganized and enjoy the process.  Plus if you need to make two trips to your car, a 10 AM arrival will give you plenty of time.

No matter how you're coming home, please be safe, look out for one another, and help a traveler in need.  The gathering is in your heart. Be the gathering as you travel home.

Finally, if you don't want to get a mandatory court appearance for a broken taillight, read this info on the right hand side of this blog.