Down yonder green valley, where streamlets meander
Where twilight is fading, I pensively roam
Where twilight is fading, I pensively roam
This is actually Hazelwood, and the Ash in the song is referring to trees rather than a volcano, but hey! its a nice photo!Apparently Irish airspace is still closed, and the ash cloud is heading west with the possibility of being in American airspace by this evening. Its like something from a science fiction novel or film, isn't it?
Dad was in town shopping this morning and got extra groceries for us as Mom is anxious that by the time I remember to do the shopping the shelves may be empty. Already in Kenya many agricultural workers have been laid off and the produce left to rot since it cannot be flown out to Europe.
A volcano spews ash in Iceland and on the other side of the world, in a different hemisphere workers lose their jobs! What sort of behemoth have we made for ourselves? There's been plenty said about Global Warming, Peak Oil, World Poverty, Terrorism, and a lot else over recent years- but did anyone consider the possibility of a Natural Incident?
But if you think about it, or, if we are prepared to think about it, this could be the very wake-up call we need to seriously mend our ways. After Krakatoa erupted there was no spring or summer so crops failed, and a lot of people died from respiratory complications. Wouldn't it be truly ironic if there was to be widespread hunger in Europe because so many people depend upon their food to be grown in Africa (and elsewhere)? Whereas in Africa the food is useless because it cannot be got out of the field and into the Market?
Up until two years ago the Hub's Dad managed farms in East Africa for the Tesco chain. We bought Kenyan green beans in Sligo, north west Ireland, knowing that M had grown them in Nanyuki, Kenya, since he was the supplier to Tesco. How absolutely RIDICULOUS is that? Think of the miles and damage it took to get them to our table?
So perhaps having all the cargo planes grounded and people stranded all over the world is just a gentle reminder to us all, all over the world, that we are living unsustainable lifestyles and that we need to cop on to ourselves. We sit and gaze at a grassy garden and go hungry for veg and fruit- how daft!
No one of us is going to solve the World's problems, its way too late for that, but sure as we do nothing, nothing will be done. Think about it, folks?
9 comments:
We definitely should be more responsible to take care of the beautiful creation GOD has blessed us with.
I often wonder when these things happen if HE is trying to get us all to slow down and evaluate what is most important.
Hugs,
andrea
That is certainly worth considering, isn't it!
I was hoping you would share what is happening that way. I didn't realize you get most your food from Africa. I assumed Europe grew its own. It is amazing how all this is happening and the Disruption it can cause from so far away. I hope they don't rush air service though as it still doesn't sound safe. Would hate to be the first one up.
I'm sorry, but I can't think serious thoughts right now. I have a charming package in front of me, full of goodies from Ireland. Thank you so so much! I realize it couldn't have gotten here without air travel, and I'm very glad it did. Your crochet is beautiful; I hope I can learn to do that. I love the button brooch, the coaster, and the darling gift tag. OK, now I'll be serious. Our global economy can be halted in the blink of an eye when something goes wrong. And here I'm just getting into this whole global thing, with lovely friends like you an ocean away. I guess I can't get there in time to help with the next birthday party, but I'll lend moral support from here. :>}
Heckety, have so enjoyed catching up on your blog. Sorry to hear about the fibromyalgia diagnosis for your daughter (?) if I understood correctly. My suggestion: never buy into any diagnosis as 'forever.' In other words, don't let "them" put a label on ya'. Sometimes, what the doctor passes as a verdict is just the soup du jour that's going around that week. Here in America, before every 10th person was diagnosed with fibromyalia, it was chronic fatique syndrome. I talked to my therapist today and we discussed sleep deprivation and how it affects us in so many ways, more than we often realize consciously. I think good, uninteruppted sleep and chocolate can cure most things:)
I think it is a reminder that as smart as we humans think we are, we are just gnats in the grand scheme of things and we can't control everything. However there are things we can do just like you said and to do nothing is the wrong answer. I love the green bean story. I am growing my own this year.
I had no idea Africa supplied so much to Europe...wow!
And I know...don't we still have NATURAL disasters???
This made me think. We hear so much on the news about the airline passengers who are stranded here or abroad, but I've not heard or read anything about how it's affecting the growers in places like Africa. Thank you for showing yet another element in the puzzle.
Love this post! I'd like to link it to my blog tomorrow for Earth Day... I'm assuming that is ok but please confirm! Thanks! Kathy
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