Happy end of the calendar year again. I'm having more than a little bit of trouble giving it the sad send off that most years get. I'm actually a bit worried about giving it the old heave-ho. Similarly, rather than the New Year being represented this year by a baby, as it has been in the past, quite a few of us seem to understand that it is much more likely to be a baby pterodactyl or giant "baby" chick that may grow bigger than human size and eat us. There is certain trepidation that comes of existential angst. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I'm a decade or more into my second half-century of life. I doubt that's it. I do understand that my contraction just there could be misinterpreted but in my efforts to shorten the string of characters, I guess I was willing to be a little vague. Please, grammar police, let this transgression slide as long as I am willing to explain myself. Later.
No, seriously, I want to do the proper send off of 2025, but the best course of action would be to have a virtually complete do-over, except with the Administration and Congress abiding by the Constitution. For readers that either have not read the document, or live under a different system of government, there are subtle differences between founding documents of other nations. I get that. However, I have to abide by what mine says. Stepping outside the limits set by whatever form of government you live under requires certain sacrifices to be made. I honor whatever form of self expression you are allowed.
I always try to side with the pro-side of issues that I have to deal with and make decisions about. Instead of thinking about boycotts as anti-such and such business practice or human rights issue, I think about the something better I do want and how to spend dollars upholding that possibility. See, every dollar, euro or yen we spend is a vote. Better that it be "for" something rather than going into what we all know we don't want. Feeling, seeing and understanding the idea of dollars being votes is even more dangerous and necessary when it is in a country that has forsaken humans and their one person, one vote tenet, used to allocate political power in our nation. In fact, a single Supreme Court Decision has upended that traditional interpretation with one that has twisted both the idea of citizens and whose "voices" are heard in an extremely different way. Corporations are now allowed to spend unlimited dollars and it is still considered "speech".
One dollar, one vote demands that we pay much closer attention to the things we buy. I always remind people to check out the free scientific information at Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) their Skin Deep database can help guide you to products that are safe and effective that also don't ship money to corporations who don't care about toxic ingredients in personal care products. This group is so fantastic that I urge everyone to use their online database to search you water quality as well. They have a zip code searchable database, again free. The one New Years resolution that I wish everyone would commit to is to treat your body well. you deserve it! Make sure that you have good clean water, healthy food and clean air to breathe. We the People of the entire planet deserve health and safety.
A brief biochar message: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9a8bmiOc-g&t=20s
Thank you Joan for asking such good questions! I'm sorry that I was a bit late getting through...I'm digitally challenged.