Stand up for our Future

When I arrived there was a big gathering of Green Peace WFF and Environmental network among others. They were presenting the save our ocean petition that asks Parliament to stop trawling our ocean. It has been signed by 50.000 New Zealanders. They had a cool coral sculpture with the names of all those who signed the petition in the pink spaces between the branches of the coral. David Parker and Marama Davidson and Eugene Sage, the former minister for Conservation, came out to receive the petition wrapped in netting.

There were not many people dropping by today and around 1pm the rain really set in. So Caz and I decided for a short vigil today. It was good to see the petition being signed and hearing  the supportive responses from all three mimisters. 

Today was intense with a lot of visitors and other action groups.
Sue kicked off at 11, Francesca joined her soon after plus Caz and Violet were there too.

Members of #FreeAssangeNZ were there for a couple of hours. They had big placards, speakers and music to commemorate end of world War I on 11 November at 11am. Since Assange exposed many war criminals and the result of the extradition trial are out soon, today was chosen to give attention to this Australian journalist. one of the speakers also made the point that Warfare is a major contributor to emissions. So Sue and I were asked to join for a photo.

Cannabis reform activist Gary Chiles and Dakta Green were also at the Seddon Statue and they delivered letters to the back entrance of Parliament. They showed photos of themselves to protesting at parliament in 2010 and 10 years ago. So this was a repeat.
We had a conversation with them about evidence based drug reform.
They expressed support for our cause.

Te Wehi from Motueka XR joined us and was glad to hear of XR Wellington holding an action against blood phosphate on Monday 16 November as part of the day of action. They will be on the beat too that day.

Vini and Laura from the Ministry of Justice stopped to talk and offered to make a photo of the four of us. Vini came from Tonga last year and was glad to see us take action. ” As you will know,r island nations are already being impacted by climate change and there was a Pacific Ocean climate conference a couple of weeks ago.”

Caz told our visitors about the planned action against blood phosphate this coming Monday 16 November 2020 and Laura would inform her partner as he is very concerned about the environment and social equity. They may both come along to support.
Douglas Renwick was another visitor. He was at FFF last Friday and put his name on the email list. He is also intending to come on Monday and is keen to be part of an action group based at Victoria campus as it would make it easier to fit in with his busy study schedule.

So we had plenty of interest from visitors today but saw no sign of any politicians. Too busy I suppose getting into the swing of things to keep us safe and build back the economy. But as I discussed with Flo from Turangi ‘keeping us safe’ includes getting on with climate action.

It was an interesting morning. Had discussion with a whole lot of schoolkids from Pahiatua by Palmerston North, a beef and lamb farmer and other members of the public.

Made another sign in situ. Mick, Yoyo and Violet came to support.

I had also chalked up the question from last week on the of Seddon Statue facing the Beehive: How can a city be as generous as a forest?
A swarm of the visiting school kids asked for the chalk and added pictures and signs.A few of them came up to me, firing a whole bunch of questions.
When I mentioned we should use cars less:
“What about if you live in the country? We can’t get on busses or trains”
“Yes,that is part of the problem. In that case we could use green cars”
“But, we can’t afford them.”
“Yeh, and what about the uranium of the batteries” another bystander listening put in.
“you mean Lithium?”
“We have a black car.” from another child.
Then we went into what ‘green’ meant in this context and this brought up the next question:what are fossil fuels?

It was a heated debate and the kids were great asking challenging questions. And not afraid to ask for clarification either.

Mick and I also talked to one young girl of 11, called Nova, about social inequity (though she did not use this term) and that it was not right. That poor people did not care because they could not buy proper food and did not have time. Nova also told us about ‘mean kids’ who threw a whole bunch of rubbish , empty food packages, at the houses of poor kids who had had food help during Corona. That their parents then had to deal with that, cleaning it up. “Then those young people get negative and don’t want to do stuff you know! “
She also felt that many teenagers were being negative.
I countered with ” What about Greta and all the school strikes? Not all young people are negative! ” She looked at Mick and I for a moment,
” You know I dream about that, about Nova making her mark on the world.”
We joked about her being a ‘SuperNova’. I promised I would write her ideas down in our E Tu blog. Nova copied our website details.

There was also an Iranian woman with her son demonstrating because her husband who was still in Iran was refused entry.

Being at the Seddon Statue is a whole window on life, and it can be quite confronting.

This is the first day after the election to continue our climate change vigil on Parliament lawn.
We decided to continue once a week on Wednesday to remind politicians and Jacinda in particular of her promise to declare a Climate Emergency and that we need to act because “ Climate Change is our generation’s nuclear moment.”

Sue Boyd and I, Francesca Pouwer, put our hands up to share a 10 to2pm vigil alternate weeks. Others will come in to support as they can.

This was my first time to be the one to take over the baton so to speak. If felt a bit lonely when I arrived on the lawn. Thankfully the constant rain had cleared and it was a beautiful blue day. I had also decided to make myself a new sign at Parliament and I came prepared with board and coloured pens. This helped me to get into the swing of taking on the responsibility to continue our vigil.

I have selected the following question to engage with the public and as a challenge to parliament.
How can a City be as generous as a Forest?

This question stayed with me from reading Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist by Kate Raworth.
It comes from one of the seven ways to think section Create to Regenerate. This question really challenges us to think of all the ways we can minimise waste. In other words, it requires our current civilisation to move from Take-Make-Use-Lose to a system that focuses on Regeneration, using green energy and resources that can be reused and repaired. It takes a mindset change! This is our challenge to the Government!!! To signify this Kate, myself and Diane sat on the other side of the Seddon Statue facing parliament. Kate had a sign around her neck saying: “C’mon Jacinda”. Diana held up “There is no Planet B!”
We need the Political Will for crucial changes to meet zero carbon by 2030 and to reimagine our way of life to save our oceans and all life in motion for future generations.
This need for Political Will was also pointed out in Last week’s New Scientist 17 10 2020 articles on THE OTHER GLOBAL CRISIS that is ramping up after Corona. Hereby some salient points from one article Climate’s Make or Break year by Adam Vaughan (pp.34 – 39).
“..the wider world has the technology and the tools to halve the emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. …. Governments need the political will, and businesses, which will pay for a lot of it, will be vital. Economic shifts well under way, such as the falling price of renewable energy and batteries, will make some decisions easy. Citizens meanwhile, who can only do so much by insulating their homes or buying an electric car, need to pressure their political representatives, in writing, in election, and when necessary on the street.”
There we have it. We need to keep going.
And “the biggest change we see from climate change is on temperature, and there climate is an absolute game-changer,” according to Friederike Otto at the University of Oxford.
We in New Zealand have the highest emissions from agriculture plus car use in the OECD. A member of Tramsaction, who dropped by today highlights the fact that our Transport system is sorely lacking. He talked to us about how Light Rail has a narrow-gauge and it is absolutely the right choice for extending our public transport and that it is faster than current rail carriages. Yet the new carriages ordered for Johnsonville line were not light rail.” If they were” he argued” it would be easy for the tracks to be continued into the city so you could stay on the same train”. He stressed that the government and the city council need to ensure efficiency, reduce time travel and cost in order for the public to move en-mass to public transport. “I am ashamed to admit that I used the car to get to work because of the time it took to get there.” Is what he said. He was off to parliament to hand deliver a letter about the need for light rail. He wanted to make sure it got attention. He came back a bit later that he needed to use free post. It is no longer possible to hand deliver our plights.
Other visitors echo the concern that we as individuals can only do so much. A retired couple from Whakatane responded with” We have to keep posing the question (to government) I suppose.”
Another comment from a couple from the Bay of Plenty said: “Jacinda has no excuse now. This government has to come up with the changes. Not for us, it’s for our children that they need to do this for.”
Later on, an elderly man in his eighties called out: “I agree with what you are doing but… There is always a BUT isn’t there?” He came down from the steps and continued,
” I think it is too late. We have all been too greedy and it’s all about money. You won’t change that”
Violet, who was supporting over lunch, countered with “But it’s not all of us. I hold the oil companies responsible….. And we are in this economy and only have a few choices. We can’t easily make the changes!!!”
“Well yes”, said our visitor, “I cannot blame you for trying. But it is not for me. I have had my life. .. we here are the lucky ones. My children might be affected, well not so much them but my grandchildren, they will be the ones to see the changes. So yeh, I suppose we should still try.”
“Yes,” I thought, “if the world were to end tomorrow, I will still plant a tree today.”
We also had a visit from a large group of Raumati South Primary School children. They did a parliament tour and were sent out to do a quiz around parliament afterward. I asked one of the teachers what she thought of the question on my placard: How can a city be as generous as a forest?
“It‘s very interesting. I think I will ask the kids this question sometime.”
I hope she will.
In the meantime, I heard several kids trying to read the sign out loud while they sat having their lunch under the big Pohutukawa on the lawn. One of them was stumbling over the word ‘generous’. So, I read it out to him and asked if he knew what it meant. He came forward a few steps,
“Yes, it’s what people do, give things. Also, we should not cut trees!”
Once the quiz started a group came right up to the Seddon statue to read the sign. A few of them started looking at me holding my placard. And then one boy said:
“Are you poor?” with a disbelieving look on his face.
“No, I am not asking for money. I am asking you to think. Have a look what the sign says.”

But really, if we do not take this question seriously, our precious Papatuanuku and all life on it will be much impoverished. I hope David Goldsmith is right when he responded on WhatsApp:
“Love, love, love the sign! Beautiful question that could go on resonating in people’s mind.”
But I want it specially to keep resonating in the minds of our politicians and mayor businesses.

Mental Health on Parliament’s Lawn

I’ve been back on the lawn now for 5 days and haven’t done any blogs or social media posts. I’ve enjoyed very much my partner Julie and our 4 year old daughter Hana being with me for 3 of these last 5 days. They returned to Christchurch on Friday.

Many of you who are engaged with the climate and ecological crisis will also be familiar with struggles similar to myself, with low mood, anxiety or despair. For me, it is hard to single out a single, dominant cause. Mental health seems to have so many levers attached to it, some more significant levers and other more minor levers. One example of a mood “lever” is if I’m feeling low, just trimming my beard or having a haircut usually helps me feel significantly better.

A big feature of low mood for me is also feeling very overwhelmed: completely swamped by expectations, unmet duties, unfinished tasks. Feeling overwhelmed I fall into being less and less productive, and so progressively feel even worse.

I went through a period after my 21 day hunger strike of feeling significantly low and unproductive. Again, it is difficult to identify all the levers behind my post hunger strike low mood: it could have been part of the transition back to eating from fasting for that length of time. One fascinating observation I have from hunger striking is that my emotions were very quiet and stable when I wasn’t eating, and then returning to eating was like the furnace of emotions in my belly was lit up again. Equally, my low mood post hunger strike may have had significant cause in losing the very clear engagement and focus I had while hunger striking.

Anyhow, the last time I returned to Parliament’s lawn (on Rick’s 20th and final day of hunger strike), there was an immediate lift in my mood by returning to the lawn. It felt deeply right to be there for Rick’s last hunger strike day, and Rick’s very tender and still presence was a privilege to be with. I do think hunger striking enables the more noble side of ourselves (that everyone has in their own unique way) to shine more brightly and I was soothed by that day sitting in Rick’s shining presence.

In the following few days I remained on the lawn that week, I remember feeling somewhat lonely and sad at times. Sad because the hunger strikes and vigil were reaching an end (the decision to continue the vigil to the election was only made later that week) and lonely because I was alone on the lawn for much of the mid week and also alone in the evenings at Viard House. However, feeling sad or feeling lonely isn’t the same as the despondent flatness I experience in what I’m calling “low mood”. There is a poignancy in loneliness and sadness, that still feels alive and connected to love and caring. Whereas what I’m describing as “low mood” is more akin to despondency, even despair; it is a more lifeless, trapped and disconnected feeling.

So, my most recent stint on the lawn was overall a very enlivening and supportive experience. This was also significantly helped by a wonderful final day on the Friday. A larger than expected turnout came to Fridays for Future and the XR roadshow finale event. It was a joyful day of reunions and new connections.

In the few days prior to returning to Wellington this time, I was falling again into those familiar feelings of overwhelm and “low mood”. I’m remembering too irritability, sometimes a short fuse with Julie and Hana that feels ugly and shameful to admit. All part of the multi-levered, stuck and tangled knot of “low mood”. So, it was good to leave the complexity of home duties and expectations in Christchurch, come to Wellington with Julie and Hana and have quality time together: on Parliament’s lawn with light duty 4 hour days, exploring the city together and resting at Island Bay in the generous and loving hospitality of Francesca and Dolf.

However, returning to Parliament’s lawn for this final stint (final for this particular action, I do hope to return again in future), did not entirely lift my recently returned low mood. I’ve been enjoyed very much the precious quality time with Julie and Hana and experienced also some returning clarity of mind by sitting on the lawn. But the shadow of unmet duties and unfinished tasks has remained present, albeit a lighter, less overbearing presence. My “low mood” has still been nipping at my heels and its nipping is more debilitating than enabling!

So we come to Vigil Day 97: it’s Saturday and I set up on Parliament’s lawn just after 10am. Kieran joins me shortly, carrying a yellow ukulele and his motorized skateboard with part of its underneath workings hanging off: “It’s brains fell out on the way here” Kieran announces cheerfully, and then after Kieran’s “How are you?” elicits a “I’m a little low” from me, he announces “We’re going to give a concert!” An audience of zero and any low mood objections from me are obviously irrelevant!

Kieran sets himself up on Molly’s folding plastic stool and tunes up his ukulele. We take turns at choosing songs. Gradually I warm to the experience, although some of the songs Kieran chooses I barely or simply don’t know, choosing songs in turn means there are some I’m familiar with. One of my early choices, Neil Young’s “Old Man”, we didn’t do so well. I’d have liked to have sung it better while thinking of my own Dad: despite my fraught relationship with him, now looking in the mirror I see him. Even hunger striking I see some of my Dad’s passion for crazy ideas! “Old Man look at my life, I’m a lot like you were . . ”

Two middle aged guys, mostly singing badly, to nobody: yet I notice a gradual shift in myself, a thawing of the heart, a relaxing of self consciousness. Kieran does a passable impression of Tom Waits singing Time: “. . the wind is making speeches and the rain sounds like a round of applause . .” Wellington weather is actually being kind today, sunshine and little wind. I join the chorus with growing enthusiasm “And it’s time, time, time; And it’s time, time, time; And it’s time, time, time that you love; And it’s time, time, time”. Our singing, while it never becomes entirely in tune or on time, it does improve and our renditions of Leonard Coen’s Hallelujah and John Lennon’s Imagine were occasionally alright. Yeah!

Interspersed with this impromptu, unrehearsed performance is small conversations with occasional passers by and longer, deeper conversation with each other. I confess to Kieran that I have not yet read the 4,000 words he wrote (in a single evening) back in July for “The Homework” page on this website. This is quite a shameful admission, it is one of the unfinished tasks lost in my overwhelm soup. My admission triggers Kieran a bit also as he is such a powerhouse of support for the vigil and hunger strikers, this website, kea forum (Kieran’s discussion forum on discourse), “Imagine my Relief” podcast, interviews, videos, animations etc, etc. “Shit man, what do I have to do to get people to look at the stuff I do? Nobody is listening!” It’s ok, we are comfortable with each other; this is a good, honest moment. I promise (as much a promise to myself as a promise to Kieran) that I will “read at least half of “The Homework” tonight”. I don’t know how Kieran achieves a fraction of the vast array of his climate related work, combined with a real job at Weta workshop. Does he ever sleep? Obviously not much!

It has been a good day. Shortly after midday, preparations begin near us for the arrival of a gentleman who has walked from Tauranga carrying a small pink coffin, a hikoi to protest legal liberalization of abortion. While we don’t share the kaupapa, we are respectful and friendly and receive in kind. Kieran and I decide to vacate our space in front of King Dick, to avoid any confusion and to give the visitors space. We move with our placards to one of the nearby bench seats. It is close to 3pm when we eventually pack up for the day and go in search of an open café for coffee and further conversation.

Later I catch the number 1 bus to return to Island Bay. As the bus turns from Lambton Quay onto Hunter Street, suddenly the bus is surrounded on both sides of the street by climate protestors! WTF, why didn’t I know about this! I search the protestors faces for someone I recognise. Nobody. It seems to take ages before the bus reaches the next stop. I jump off, phoning Kieran (who I’d seen walking in the same direction carrying his brain injured scooter). No answer from Kieran, I leave a voice message and walk briskly back to the protest. Now nobody is there, only two technicians, one of them packing up a smoke machine on a trolley. I approach him and get the rest of the story: yes it was a film set and they are filming an ad “for the Government” about the need for action on climate change! I look forward to seeing it.

Into the small hours that evening I read all the 4,000 words Kieran has written, do minor edits/corrections and write larger edits for parts of the section Kieran wrote on the “seven homework points” from my whiteboard (this minor editing work was the reason I had been avoiding reading Kieran’s 4000 words), somehow losing all my editing and rewriting it. Then I follow up some of the afternoon’s conversation with Kieran by watching the latest podcast from “Image my Relief”, https://imaginemyrelief.blog/2020/09/14/ending-oil-and-gas-dependency/ (a link to a 52 minute video of Dr Terrance Loomis talking about the predatory delay behaviour of oil companies in response to the climate and eco-crisis, see also http://www.terrenceloomis.ac.nz/latest-publication.html ).

Somehow, today has pulled the right levers of my tangled “low mood” knot. My low mood has lifted (for now) and I’m engaging in some productive action.

Half way through writing this blog (written off and on through Sunday, the following day), I discover that Vigil Day 97 was also World Mental Health Day. Is there something bigger than all of us that sometimes we tap into, sometimes entering a flow of existence? Or are these serendipitous coincidences just the Universe blowing a kiss. I don’t know, but sometimes I feel low and sometimes I feel engaged, connected and alive.

Whatever state I’m in, it is all an incredible miracle; at once both fragile and robust.

David has committed to returning on the 5th of October to carry the vigil through to the 2020 Election. In the meantime the locals are keeping the vigil. I was there for the week: the picture you see there was three lads from Wales who were on a mission to the human pyramid pictures at important places. I took the pic for them but insisted on a shot by the signs in return.

The weather bomb can to us on Sunday. Caz and Francesca were there for the day. Caz and I were late (daylight saving!) but we picked up a load of wind and rain.

Both days included plenty of talks about climate change with passers-by. That sign on the right “Support farmers, support regenerative farming” does a lot of heavy lifting for us – it starts more conversations than any other.

One guy pointed to the row of signs and said “Which one do you support?”. I pointed out that they were all tied together, I put them up and was there on my own. I them talked about the way politicians and industries create the rural urban divide to over-simplify and destroy any constructive conversations about complex problems.

Thanks to the local crew: Mick, Molly, Francesca, Caz and Sue will be keeping the vigil this week, as they have done across the last 84 days. So proud to be with you all.

— Kieran

E Tū for Future and Fridays for Future were joined at Parliament today by:
•Extinction Rebellion (XR) roadshow
•XR Toddlers (my personal favourite)
•James Shaw (briefly)
•Jessica Hammond (TOP candidate for Õhāriu)

I estimate about 80 people altogether gathered with us today.

It was a special day: wonderful reunions with people who supported Tim and I over our month long stint here, plus meeting new people who’ve become involved over the 6 weeks I’ve been home recovering in Christchurch.

We ate cake to celebrate Florry’s 1st birthday.

Jessica Hammond and I fought back tears together while wondering how we can face our children when considering the future we’re leaving them.

I can’t say how much it means to speak with a politician and feel they really get it. Sadly, it would take a miracle to get TOP in parliament, but if your electorate is Õhāriu please consider giving Jessica your candidate vote.

It was really good of James Shaw to spend a short time with us today. I’d dearly love to have a real conversation with him however. Maybe that can still happen sometime soon.

Rick Williment ended his 20 day hunger strike on Tuesday (vigil day 79). Congratulations Rick.

One big disappointment for us recently has been the complete lack of any media coverage of Rick’s 20 day hunger strike. So, today it was exciting to see him getting media attention at last, being interviewed on camera by Newshub. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any sign of his interview being published at all by Newshub.

We’ve had 6 hunger strikers over a total of 69 days of hunger striking! Today was the 82nd day of our daily vigil at Parliament . . So what now for E Tū for Future?

I was expecting today would be the end of our inaugural E Tū for Future action here at Parliament (I’m returning home to Christchurch tomorrow). However, despite their weariness after 82 days of supporting vigil and hunger strikes, a core group of Wellington supporters have stepped up and committed to keeping up our daily vigil until I’m able to return on Tuesday 6th October.

From Tuesday 6th October, I’ll then keep daily vigil at Parliament until the election. Our action continues!

Thank you everyone for your loving support.

A huge thank you especially to those of you who, like a flock of geese, are stepping up then swapping out of the lead roles, keeping E Tū standing.

💚 David

I moved to temporarily facing parliament this morning to allow TOP to announce their climate change policy in front of King Dick. I think this is the first time in our 81 day vigil that our signage faced Parliament!

I was really impressed by the TOP climate change korero from both Jessica Hammond (candidate for Õhāriu) and Geoff Simmons (leader). The only major critique I’d give is complete absence of discussion of need for economic degrowth with banning fossil fuel. Now that is a really inconvenient truth for politicians.

You can watch the TOP climate change policy announcement here: https://m.facebook.com/topnz/videos/1522221264616695/

I did have a one-on-one discussion with Geoff Simmons about the obvious need for degrowth when we ban fossil fuels. He was amiable and seemed open minded.

It wasn’t long before I was able to occupy the familiar position and orientation! And it also wasn’t long before I was again alone.

It is very quiet in front of Parliament these days. Politicians are busy politicking, and our local E Tū supporters are taking time to recover/ give attention to their normal lives, after their huge effort supporting 69 days of hunger striking.

I admit to feeling a little lonely and sad at times, here keeping up the E Tū for Future vigil. It is feeling like this inaugural E Tū action is winding down and possibly coming to a close.

I’m very grateful that the Catholic Church are accommodating me again in Viard House. It is familiar, very comfortable and extremely convenient being immediately across the road from Parliament.

However, even at Viard House, I am aware of feelings of loneliness and some sadness. It is like returning to the vibrant scene of a party, only everyone has left and nothing feels the same.

My tonic for these sad feelings is to think of the huge achievement of everyone here: 6 hunger strikers over 69 days of hunger striking, 81 continuous days of vigil. Wonderful people supporting all if this. I’m thinking of everyone involved and feeling very appreciative, feeling all the love.

💚 David

It is a wet and windy day today after a sunny (and windy) day yesterday. It is great to be back occupying the foot of King Dick’s monument. It was especially a privilege to spend yesterday with Rick, his 20th and final day hunger striking. Rick was very tender, emotional at times, open hearted; clearly already deeply moved by the crisis we all are facing and feeling it even more through the hunger strike process.

I sent a message hoping that Rick’s refeeding is going well and below is the response I received:

Dear David!
I’m thinking of you there today in the wild wet turbulence!
I broke my fast with so much joy and relief yesterday afternoon. An apple. A dried apricot! And in the evening I had a plate of asparagus and beans and carrots and courgette even though they aren’t in season, and avocado with cashew nuts even though they aren’t local. And actually I wept again and strongly. For the relief of it being over, for the privilege of having such foods, for those who don’t. I don’t think I’m a sentimental person. My heart is very open to those on the front lines of these climate/industrial-addiction-fuelled catastrophes 🙏🏻
Deep gratitude to you David, and to Ollie before you, and to all your courageous hearts. Thank you to all of us for standing up. E Tū!!!

Tomorrow I am an eating person again. That is so exciting. I feel great appreciation for the fact of food. For the privilege of eating food.

And I don’t want to be sentimental or seen as sentimental – (I can’t use the word ‘but’ here – so, yet/and/ as well as), my heart and mind go to those who can’t eat what they need to eat. Some such at home here in unevenly wealthy Aotearoa. And everywhere else.

My hunger strike is ending and my energy reserves are getting lower. I’m living within my means, energy- wise, because there’s no choice. The thought occurs ‘if we might embrace that principle’ in our society.

I appreciate the care I’ve been given by the E Tū team, Kieran, Molly, Sue, Caz, Rachel, Kate, Hiro, Mick. The Fridays for Our Future group have held this vigil for a long time. So many days of dedication. Often unacknowledged. A deep bow to you all. And thank you.

My friends and whānau and the very many who’ve come to be with me, and those who couldn’t but have held me with love and care. I am grateful.

We live in fundamental liberty, pretty much, I think. Liberty to eat (though plenty go hungry), to drink clean water, to speak truth, to love another, to counter government. Basic liberties that aren’t assured in many parts of our world. And willingly surrendering our liberty is a strong statement, then. To go to prison or to risk going. To stop eating because we are literally stealing life from other species, from every generation ahead.

I am thinking of this as gifting liberty.

Gifting liberty

With love all around it

I rarely discuss this. The topic of sacrifice. The associations with guilt, masochism, posturing. Maybe I’ll try poetically.

These times do call us, I think, to reach deep, to show up, to be seen

To have our voice heard as powerfully as we can

We are in serious trouble

There is no happy ending

So, gifting liberty through sacrifice

(out of love, grief, and rage perhaps)

Is one (noble) response

Mine and yours, inspired by each other’s

Our best blessing

With sincerity

May we uphold our sacred obligations to the Earth and to each other.