Monthly Museletter—April 2018

 

 

Today I’m again sharing Karla’s wonderful monthly newsletter. In April she explores Earth Day and offers some great films and videos and thought-provoking quotes. Thanks again, Karla!❤ —SK

P. S. If you’re from Colorado Springs and would like Karla’s full newsletter that includes local events, you can write her at karlaann45 @ gmail.com.

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If you’re not quite ready for the warm months . . . 
Snuggle up with the first documentary film, the 1922 silent B&W film NANOOK OF THE NORTH. It’s riveting and enlightening.

(If you’re from Colorado Springs, Karla notes that you can stream hundreds of movies free on your computer: sign up with your library card # on ppld.kanopy.com.

Can we PLEASE do what San Francisco is doing? We could easily follow these wise steps!

 

The magic and math of skating on thin ice is explained in this article by PBS.

“We will protect what we fall in love with.”
I am comforted that LIFE will continue, whether or not humans do. Louie Schwartzberg’s TED talk “The Beauty of Pollination” contains a 4-minute excerpt from his full-length documentary WINGS OF LIFE.

Of every 10 living things, NINE LIVE IN THE OCEAN! (Now do you feel like a minority?)

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.”—James Baldwin

Botanical Animation
Take a trip into roots & seeds via this lovely animated botanical three-minute film, STORY OF FLOWERS (made for children). Directed by: Azuma Makoto; Illustration by: Katie Scott; Animation by: James Paulley.

Bear Love
When two bears’ paws are severely injured in a wildfire, a California veterinarian treats the burned paws with tilapia skin! Click to watch the amazing story.

“Don’t go off sightseeing. The real journey starts exactly where you are.”—Rumi

Did you know?
One-third of New Zealand is protected park & marine reserves. New Zealand has 11 of the worlds 14 climates on two islands.

Deep Science
Geneticist Jennifer Doudna on CRISPR discovery & ethics.
(Note from S.K.—Those of you who know me might be able to imagine how much this concerns me! Scientists in this field, in general, and in regard to this and other kinds of genetic-modification technology, have not had the best reputation for doing long-term research, holding inclusive discussions, and pinpointing exactly what all the long-term implications might be before forging ahead.)

“NATURE is an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only listen.” —George Washington Carver, African-American Horticulturist, Mystic, & Inventor

When I heard about 150 pilot whales dying after beaching themselves, I thought, “They’ve sacrificed themselves to wake us up to the deadly mess we’re making of the oceans with our pollution and plastics and sonic booms.” Could it be a parallel to the youth rising up saying ENOUGH?

“The Power of the People is much stronger than the people in power.” —Wael Ghonim, Egyptian-American

For Equinox, Ann & I walked the Benet Pines Labyrinth. I was contemplating a puzzle piece of pine bark, when this encouragement arrived, meant for all of us:
“With Good Intention, use all the Tools, Talents, Treasures, and Time you’ve been given. Ask Guidance and Wisdom from all Species, Elements, Ancestors, and Descendants. You’ve already made a difference . . . you can’t imagine the Difference you can still make.”—Karla

“I found God in myself, and I loved Her fiercely, oh fiercely.” —Ntozake Shange

Do you still like reading actual books? Then this article, “13 Female ‘Cli-Fi’ Writers Who Are Inspiring a Better Future” will surely appeal to you. To this list I would add Starhawk’s The Fifth Sacred Thing, hopefully becoming a movie in our lifetime!

EARTH DAY 2018: End Plastic Pollution
Countdown to April 22. Join up, find out what’s going on for Earth Day, sign some petitions, re-Tweet Earth-knowledge and pollution facts. Everything you’ll need is here on Earthday.org.

While April 22nd is our official “Earth Day”, I propose that we change that to EVERY day is Earth Day! How do you hope to help clean up and green up our planet this year? My wish is to plant a few trees (and many flowers), to reduce waste at home, and to continue to educate through writing and sharing the work of other green-hearts. —S. K.

The Years Project should be on every Earth-lover’s film viewing list. Here’s the YouTube Page that has all the videos. Watch, share, and donate to The Years Project if you can!

Wild Spring Greens! Before dandelions bloom is the perfect time to harvest them for pesto. Check out Katrina Blair’s book, The Wild Wisdom of Weeds to get an education on thirteen free, delicious, readily available, and highly-nutritious weeds that you probably have in your backyard! As for that pesto, here’s a recipe from David Lebovitz that includes other creative and delicious uses for the green topping.

Until next month . . . have a beautiful April!