Man as a Strand in the Web of Life

WHATEVER BEFALLS THE EARTH
BEFALLS THE SONS OF THE EARTH.
MAN DOES NOT WEAVE THE WEB OF LIFE;
HE IS MERELY A STRAND IN IT.
WHATEVER HE DOES TO THE WEB
HE DOES TO HIMSELF.

~ Chief Seattle (1786-1866)

Of Note: Using sophisticated air current tracking methods, scientists from NASA have been able to watch as clouds of haze from China sweep across the globe and deposit acid rain in such far off places as the Great Lakes in as little as four days. South Korea and Japan are daily recipients of the industrial pollutants spewed from China's factories, smelting plants and other pollution producing facilities while the rest of the globe receives it share more sporadically depending on prevailing air currents. The Middle Kingdom has been slow to step up to its environmental responsibilities, but changes are coming from an unlikely source--Chinese environmental activists. The government is slowly enacting new environmental regulations but implementation has been slow. 3,500 activist groups have stepped into the void as enforcers. Surprisingly, they are being allowed to work. Why? Research has shown that China is losing 8% of its wealth each year to pollution, which has also caused a myriad of health problems and crop failures. Eventually, the problems could lead to violent social unrest. Allowing activists free rein backed by new regulations has put group pressure on companies to literally clean up their acts without strenuous governmental enforcement, which could translate into a win-win situation for all involved. Symbolically, the activists represent the rest of the world in efforts to get to the source of a problem that can only be solved at the grassroots level. We can send them the energy of love on the same air currents that bring the pollution, thus lightening their burden.

Today's Weather Report: Another gloomy day with no sun, although the temp sits at 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The last couple of sunny days were so refreshing to the soul and mind. The space shuttle Discovery landed in Florida for the last time today in excellent weather. Each of the other two space shuttles will have a last flight this year as well. Then, the program will be mothballed. Interestingly, private enterprises will be given a chance to see what they can do in space. Hopefully, the powers that be have mapped out the legal aspects of sharing the "last frontier."