| <div class="ck-content"><h4>Priority Numero Uno: Reduce Consumption</h4><p>Just read an article in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/03/boom-in-mining-for-renewable-energy-minerals-threatens-africas-great-apes-aoe">The Guardian</a> that reinforces so very clearly and desperately how important it is to make consumption reduction a top priority in human societies, easily on par with ending fossil fuels. It also reminds of the very awful consequences of separating climate change (which is always framed in terms of impact on humans) from the destruction of the natural world (collapse of biodiversity, aka, human-caused extinctions).</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1bMaIh7VYF3jxsnwL1XqzQvqpR9HfkYjP&sz=w500-h400"></div><blockquote><p>“<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(18,18,18);">Up to a third of Africa’s great apes are threatened by a boom in mining projects for minerals required for the renewable energy transition, new research shows….Even the most ecologically sensitive areas are generally not protected. Unrelated to apes, the paper found that 20% of mining areas overlapped with regions that were considered unique for biodiversity, or labelled “critical habitats”. Junker said: “Companies, lenders and nations need to recognise that it may sometimes be of greater value to leave some regions untouched to mitigate climate change and help prevent future epidemics.””</span></p></blockquote><p>Good luck with that, right?</p><p>Switching to renewable energy, electric cars, etc., is not going to help all that much, if we continue to buy, buy, buy all those products with batteries made from natural “resources" dug out of our planet. Achieving more equitable societies in places like India will likely <i>hasten</i> the collapse of our ecosystems worldwide, because with more equity, and less poverty, more air conditioners, refrigerators, cards, etc. will be bought.</p><p>We'll feel good about ourselves for buying electric, but the world around us will go on dying. The main conversation humans in “developed” nations should be having is how to shift from a “growth economy” to one that prioritizes preservation of our natural world, and quality of life, not quantity of possessions. </p><h4>Priority Numero Uno on Tree Rescues: Safety</h4><p>As many of you know, I usually start off my event introductions by reminding everyone of the top priority: NO INJURIES. The way we accomplish this is to wear proper clothing and gear (long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves, protective eyewear, etc.) and to not hurry. That's what I say. But do I always do this? No, so I thought I would confess my sins and show you what come of neglecting safety precautions. </p><p>Below on the left is my right forearm. A week ago, I went out at dusk to cut wisteria vines growing along Martin Luther King Jr Blvd near my apartment. I wore a short sleeved shirt, because I was only going to use my loppers to cut vines that I could easily reach from the sidewalk. So I didn't need to wear a long-sleeved shirt, I told myself. What I didn't tell myself was: “Steven, every time you say things like that to yourself, you regret them.”</p><p>All went well until I was walking back home, thinking I was done, and then saw a thick vine of wisteria growing up a tree about 18" in from the sidewalk. So I reached in with my saw and cut it. It was dark by then and hard to see, but I could feel. And what I felt were greenbriar thorns saying hello in the only way they know how. Honestly I didn't even realize what had happened (endorphins!) until I got home and found a half-dozen scratches on my arm. Bad Steven, bad!</p><p>On the right you see 8 or 9 shallow puncture wounds on my thigh, just above the knee. I have gotten wounds like this a half dozen times, all from my fantastically sharp Silky saws, and all due to my carelessness. Here's how this injury happens: I am sawing through a tree or limb. It is going as smoothly as I would like. Maybe I am tired. I turn the saw so that it is cutting through the side opposite me, meaning the only thing between the blade and me is the tree. And then I pull it hard because I am frustrated. The saw goes through the wood and bangs into my leg (or sometimes arm).</p><p>At least this one didn't bleed or hurt much. When the blade hits my shin, it has bled profusely and OMG the pain.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1ePBJyVxGvZopxYGrsdHCScHCHUxe09S0&sz=w600-h400" alt="injuries to arm and leg"></div><p>Bottom line (<strong>Steven!</strong>):</p><ul><li>Don't be in a hurry.</li><li>If you are getting impatient, or tired, or frustrated, put down your sharp tool. Take some deep breaths. </li><li><i>Never</i> saw towards you. Always to the side or away.</li></ul><h4>Podcast Recommendation: the Nature Guys</h4><p>I received this email from one of our planet healers this week:</p><blockquote><p>“If you are not familiar with this podcast, you might be interested in their most recent 4-part series on invasive plants. They are based in Ohio, but the information is broadly applicable. While you likely know all the “<strong>why do</strong> behind the <strong>how to</strong>” of removing invasive plants, some of the recipients of your newsletter might be interested in giving the series a listen. I thought it was quite good, including their indictment of the ornamental horticulture industry (!), even with their totally corny podcast outro.</p></blockquote><p>Check it out!</p><p><a href="https://natureguys.org/category/podcast/">https://natureguys.org/category/podcast/</a></p></div><div class="ck-content"><h4>Receive all my reports on tree rescues!</h4><p>If you'd like to get some good news about restoring native habitats delivered straight to your brain upwards of a few times a week, sign in to <a href="https://rewildearth.net">Rewild Earth</a>, click on your name in top right, then My profile. Under Communication Preferences, switch “Send reports of all events” to ON.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><img src="https://drive.google.com/thumbnail?id=1BeynVqu8taOGrsvi56u0mmDKuNJko22h&sz=w600-h400" alt="REPLACE" width="358" height="138"></div><p>Resources you might find useful:</p><ul><li><a href="https://shop.naisma.org/collections/buckthorn-blaster">Buckthorn Blasters</a>: safe, easy herbicide delivery system from the North American Invasive Species Management Association. Don't start cutting without them!</li><li><a href="https://nc-ipc.weebly.com/nc-invasive-plants.html">NC Invasive Plants list</a>: recently updated by NC-IPC, the NC Invasives Plants Council.</li><li><a href="https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG259">Overview of different herbicides</a>: glyposphate, triclopyr and others - which should you use?</li><li>Volunteer for <a href="https://triangleland.org">Triangle Land Conservancy</a>: the biggest land conservancy group in our area. </li><li>Volunteer for <a href="https://ellerbecreek.org">Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association</a> (Durham): a wonderful group working hard to maintain contiguous natural areas along Ellerbe Creek.</li></ul></div> |