On Climate Change

Rising sea levels,

caused by hotter temperatures,

having dramatic effects.

Sea level rise causing flooding,

damaging infrastructure,

ruining fresh water,

challenging our capacity

to respond.   

Our collective economic

well-being, the safety of future

generations is on the line.

People of conscience

are rallying
in solidarity.

The world is at stake.

The costs to humanity,
an indisputable reality. 

New technologies for energy will help avoid the greenhouse gases that are responsible for climate change while creating new industries and prosperity.  It’s win-win.

 

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© 2012 Catherine Giordano

I found this picture at

http://www.what-is-global-warming.com

Legacy

Land, water, wildlife—
basic to physical,
spiritual,
psychological well-being.

Fresh air and water—

vital to life.
Green space—
soothes stress,
boosts quality of life.

Federal lands are our birthright.

Public ownership protects open space.

America’s unique ecology

from Southern marsh and pine mosaics
to panted mesas in the Southwest.

These are our lands.

They belong to all Americans.

The words for this poem were taken from a column in the newspaper critical of the Republicans environmental policies.  It is written by a Republican who will be voting Democratic henceforth because of her concern for conservatism, i.e., conservation of the environment.

© 2012 Catherine Giordano

This picture is from http://sevennorth.com

Humans and Nature

Buy this book on amazon.com

Barry Commoner identified, explained
ecological, environmental connectedness:
humans, the natural world,
social injustice,
the environmental crisis.

Commoner boiled down his philosophy

to four simple principles.

Everything is connected

to everything else.

Everything must go somewhere.

Buy this book on amazon.com

Nature knows best.

There is no such thing

as a free lunch.

He wrote “The Closing Circle.”

He was the greatest
environmentalist
of the twentieth century.





I took this picture from https://www.migeneticsconnection.org
but I modified it adding the green recycle image.

Barry Commoner helped achieve a nuclear test ban in the 1960’s, he drew early attention to the dangers of dioxins, he recognized the potential of solar energy, and he promoted recycling as a way to reduce waste. He died at the age of ninety-five from natural causes on Sunday, September 30, 2012.

© 2012 Catherine Giordano

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Brown Tide at Indian River Lagoon

Algae clobbering
vital sea grass,
in the Indian River Lagoon.

A super-tiny plant, a big name,

Aureoumbra lagunensis—
“brown tide.”

Billions in every quart

of lagoon water,
turning the water brown,

preventing sunlight from penetrating ,

shading-to-death
the meadows of sea grass—

the  foundation

of lagoon marine life—
providing food and shelter.



CLICK HERE
to look inside

The die-off of plants,

devastating to everything—
manatees, wading birds, fish. 

Distressed fish,

swimming erratically,
gasping for air, near death.

The loss of sea grass,

causing lasting harm
to the lagoon.

The  Indian Rive Lagoon stretches along 40% of Florida’s east coast.  Learn more about it at

http://indianriverlagoon.org

© 2012 Catherine Giordano

 

 

This beautiful artist's rendition of brown tide was done by Joanie Gagnon San Chirico.

Dandelion Café

Dandelion Communitea Café,
the antithesis of corporate.

On the façade and windows,

painted psychedelic green,
liberal, new-age buzz words.

Organic. Vegan.  Holistic.

Recycling. Fair trade. Bicycling.
Urban Teahouse. Eco Attitude.

Dandelion’s philosophy:

Be the change you wish
to see in the world.

And the food tastes good.

In a world of uniformity, Dandelion Communitea Café is an example of charmingly quirky individualism.  An urban teahouse steeped in liberal attitude. Good vibe. Good food.

It's on Thornton Avenue just off Colonial Drive.

© 2012 Catherine Giordano

I found this picture at http://www.instablogsimages.com

Troubled Springs

Click Here to learn more about Florida's Springs

Silver Springs,

pumping out liquid enchantment,
clear-as-air water,
Florida water.

Our springs,

vital to our economy,
vital to our self-identity,
vital to our shared heritage.

Our freshwater springs

grip the human imagination,
with a  sense of wonder,
with a sense of awe.

Our state

is underlain
with soluble limestone
that brings these springs to life.

But, there’s a growing

human threat to our springs.
The flow is diminishing;
it may be dry in twelve years.

Once a spring dies

its solace,
its heritage,
its light dies with it.

Nothing in the world can revive it.

Even with the future of Silver Springs in peril, the district is considering a new request to pump 13 million gallons a day from the aquifer for Adena Springs Ranch, a proposed cattle ranch.  They would take as much water as the entire city of Ocala uses.  Unbelievable!

© 2012 Catherine Giordano

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.

This picture comes from www.floridadiveconnection.com 

Controversial Cure

Sickly Lake Apoka,
healing at a snail’s pace.

The book is coming out the end of April with a collection of 101 of the 2012 first quarter poems. I'm taking down the posts, but I'll leave the first stanza of each poem.

Reservoir Wars

Tensions in Florida rise
over control of
scarce water supplies.

The book is coming out the end of April with a collection of 101 of the 2012 first quarter poems. I'm taking down the posts, but I'll leave the first stanza of each poem.