"When the Dalai Lama was asked what surprised him most about humanity, he answered, 'Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.'"
The world feels like it's spinning out of control on a collision course towards its own demise as man continues to pollute the planet in the name of progress and financial gains. Everything I hear on the news and everything I read in the papers seems dark and hopeless.
But I do believe there is hope to heal our planet from such abuse. If we'd all just stop to look around and experience the wonders of this amazingly magical place called Earth, we just might be able to shift the negative impacts we're all responsible for in some way, shape, or form.
This past week, my husband and I paddled and hiked in the north country of the Adirondack wilderness. The air was crisp and the foliage was spectacular with splashes of flaming reds and brilliant oranges and yellows interspersed between the towering green pines. Everything felt so pristine, like man hadn't fully arrived and left his toxic footprint upon the landscape. I knew, though, that that really wasn't the truth at all, because acid rain from the mid-west has damaged the forests and waters of the Adirondacks, and it isn't safe anymore to eat the mercury ladened trout. Visually, however, the air and the land felt pure and wholesome and free from the negative impacts of man and his factories.
On our eight hour journey home, we decided to take the Cross Sound Ferry from New London to Orient Point. As the sun set in the west, the sky was on fire with a deep warm red, a perfect backdrop for the lighthouse. It felt like heaven on Earth as we slipped over the surface of the water. Everything felt perfect as I drank my Octoberfest beer and ate a turkey sandwich on seeded rye with a crunchy kosher dill pickle.
But that feeling soon morphed into a sense of hopelessness as we headed towards the North Ferry that would take us over to Shelter Island. I couldn't help but notice the enormous high tension lines running down both sides of the two-lane country highway.
I get it. I too love when I can switch on the lights or turn on my washing machine. What I don't get, however, is how we can stand by and agree to the way we receive that electric power. We should all be saying NO to the overhead lines that are dangerous to our health and a blight to our environment.
Recently, members from LIBFRE
http://www.libfre.com met with several New York State officials to discuss our concerns regarding the dangers from Pentachlorophenol ladened utility poles installed by PSEG in East Hampton. From that meeting, two courageous New York State politicians have stood up to big business and the present administration, proposing legislation to ban Pentachlorophenol's use in New York State. Kudos to Senator Kenneth LaValle and Assemblyman Fred Thiele.
Everyone of our politicians should be standing up to big business, no matter what the monetary costs are. It's time to make the commitment to eliminate the toxic chemicals that are polluting our environment so that we can reverse the health risks they cause.
When you vote in November, educate yourself before you cast your vote. Remember, your vote is your voice and every vote counts. Make sure the candidates you choose are going to represent your concerns for your health and the health of our planet.
