1776 – “They call us ‘minute men’.  But I’m more concerned about the coming generations than about the next minutes.  We fight with General Washington so our children’s children will continue to be free from tyranny.” – R. Owen Nashun

       1861 – “I’m one of the lucky ones.  I escaped and rode the underground railroad to freedom.  Now I’m helping supply Lincoln’s army so it can free others.  We sacrifice so our grandbabies will be free from the threat of slavery.” – I. Bea Phree

       1910 – “It seems almost silly that men think women aren’t as capable of making intelligent decisions and choosing our government leaders as men are.  That’s why I’m dedicated to women’s suffrage.  We march so that our granddaughters will have self-determination and an equal voice.” -  Juanita Ballot

       1935 – “Hundreds of thousands of folks are out of work or destitute, and the dustbowl is driving farmers from their homes.  So we Americans roll up our sleeves and pull each other up.  I cook at the soup kitchen whenever I can.  We volunteer so that all our grandchildren – rich or poor – can follow their dreams in the pursuit of happiness.” - Cher Da’Grubb

      1961 – “President Kennedy said, ‘…ask what you can do for your country.’ I asked and found my calling as a medical research scientist.  Basic science is foundational to the medical breakthroughs that have allowed Americans to live longer, healthier lives.  We researchers puzzle-out viruses so that our grandchildren can look forward to a healthy future.” - Cy Eintist

       2025 – “Habitat and bio-diversity loss, ocean acidification, climate disruption, chemical and plastic pollution – Lordy!  It’s overwhelming!  What can any one person do?” Wanda Steppup lamented.  “One thing I’m NOT going to do is throw up my hands and surrender.  That just feels crummy and doesn’t help one bit.

       “Some folks have said WE are the patriots our country has been waiting for.  Can we live up to that calling and honor those patriots who have come before us?  One way is to shrink our environmental footprints.  Just imagine the impact our combined efforts can make!  Patriots, are you with me?  Let’s step up so our grands can grow and prosper on a bountiful, healthy planet.  After all, this is their only home; it’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

        Chesapeake Bay, MA -  “Free at last!” Carra Bonn shouted. “Whee!” Di Oxide called back.  Carra and Di had just been expelled from the smokestack of a diesel freighter.  After millions of years locked up in oily sludge, they swirled willy-nilly over the ocean and eventually found themselves hovering above a small skiff.  Trav Lurr and Trippe Taker sat sweltering in their skiff; fishing tackle dangled alongside. Di and Carra eavesdropped on their chatter.

        “Whew! Feels like we’re in for another record-breaking heatwave,” Trav complained.  “And the federal government seems to be throwing in the towel on efforts to mitigate this mess.  It’s almost like they think if we don’t talk about it, climate change will just go away.  Fat chance! In fact I just read something about ocean acidification.  You know, the process by which oceans absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  Then it becomes carbonic acid.  Too much of that prohibits the formation of calcium carbonate, the stuff marine organisms need to develop shells.  It’s already way too high in some places and decimating those underwater ecosystems.”

        “Shh…they’re talking about us!” Carra whispered to Di.

        “Yeah,” Trippe added, “we’ve been trying to decide what to do for a family vacation this summer.  I was feeling a bit guilty about burning all that fossil fuel to fly or drive somewhere.  Like it or not, we all burn fossil fuels - sometimes A LOT when we travel.  Then I learned about Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (sRECs).  They’re a way to reduce future carbon emissions by supporting solar energy generation.  When someone retires (buys) sRECs, they are incentivizing a WI-based nonprofit or citizen who is generating solar electricity.  More solar incentives means more rooftop and small-scale solar projects and fewer emissions.

        “sRECs aren’t perfect, but buying them to cover our trip’s greenhouse gas emissions does help mitigate the effects of our travels.  And it’s easy.  The folks at Legacy Solar Coop* are happy to help you purchase sRECs.”

        Meanwhile, the swirling breeze was carrying Di and Carra lower and lower toward the rolling swells.  “Looks like we’ll be taking a dip soon.  Then…Oh dear!  We’ll become part of the carbonic acid problem,” Di fretted. “Wish I could pitch in to buy some sRecs because Earth has to have a balanced ecosystem.  After all, it’s our only home; we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

*legacysolarcoop.org/solar-renewable-energy-credits/

        Clattering dishes and lively conversations filled Uncle’s Diner.  Pete Roleum and Cole Phurnaces huddled in their usual booth.  Lunch debris littered their tabletop. “Hey Sam! Bring us another platter of subs,” Pete called out. “I just love the subs here,” he mumbled wolfing down another mouthful.  (According to Oil Change International, Uncle Sam dishes up direct subsidies of around $20.5 billion to fossil fuel companies every year.)

        Meanwhile, at the back of the diner Ray Newables waited patiently to be served.  Sam eventually made his way to Ray’s table and plopped down some meager, but nutritious tidbits. “Here you go Bub; it’s all I’ve got for you today.  But ya better eat up.  I’m thinking about shutting down this section.” (Fossil fuel industries get 7 times more permanent tax expenditures than renewables receive.  E.g. In 2016, permanent tax spending for renewables totaled only around $1.1 billion.)

        Lemmy Pitchinn sat kitty-corner to Ray and couldn’t help but notice the meager serving he’d been given.  He caught Pete’s eye and slide over to his booth.  “Here, try some,” Lemmy said offering a plateful of goodies. “My friends and I have lots of these.  Join us for lunch sometime,” he grinned.  (According to Carbon Brief, in 2024 banks and private finance were supplying about 2/3s of all climate financing, compared to 1/3 from nation states.)

        Just then, the welcome bell above the door jingled.  Ian Vestors walked in, and all conversation paused for a moment.  Pete and Cole scrambled to their feet and waved him over.  Ian nodded their way but then turned and strode to the back. “You’re the guy I came to see,” Ian said to Ray as he introduced himself and settled in.  Pete and Cole were miffed!  (No wonder!  About twice as much of today’s global energy investment is going to renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency, and electrification than is going to oil, natural gas, and coal. - International Energy Agency)

        Uncle Sam was dying to hear what Ian and Ray were talking about.  He pretended to be wiping down tables in their section and caught the gist of their conversation.  “Wow!” Uncle Sam thought.  “Guess I should give Ray a seat up front from now on.” As should we all  because this is the only home we’ll ever know; it’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound. 

       Dateline: April 5, Dundee, KY - “One more layer ought to do the trick,” Mark puffed.  Len nodded as they hoisted another sand bag onto the makeshift dam. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you,” Anita Boost replied, tears of gratitude clouding her eyes. “The news guy said this is the worst flooding Kentucky’s ever seen.  And this little house is all I’ve got; without help…”Anita shook her head and wiped away a tear.

        Dirty, wet and exhausted, Mark and Len made their way to the Red Cross food tent. “It’s really great seeing these volunteers pour in from all over the country,” Len DaHand smiled while scanning the motley cross-section of characters. “You got that right,” Mark Et’Place agreed.  “And thank goodness our president has released federal disaster funding to help these folks get back on their feet.”

        “No kidding,” Len said. “With the climate warming, these severe weather events just keep piling up and getting more severe.  Besides all the human suffering, it’s costing us a fortune - $182 billion in the U.S. last year alone, over $1.4 trillion over the last 10 years! 

        “This administration is trying so hard to reduce costs; you’d think they’d support policies that both save taxpayers money and reduce unhealthy, climate-warming emissions, stuff like the Inflation Reduction Act provisions.  Take Elective Pay for example; it cuts 30% from the cost of energy efficiency upgrades and adding solar for nonprofits.  Hundreds of schools in Wisconsin have done just that and are saving their local taxpayer’s tens of thousands of dollars every year.  Some schools
are counting on that 30% to make improvements that are already in the works.”
 
        “Hmm…,” Mark began, “I’ve always been a ‘let the marketplace determine costs’ kind-a-guy, especially concerning energy issues.  But shoot; when we’re really in a pinch, like with this flood, we pretty much all agree that federal help is a godsend.  It’s a bit like that last layer of sandbags, a reliable backstop preventing a whole lot of misery.  Seems like a similar ‘stitch-in-time’ from the feds would help stem these rising disaster costs.  Yeah…ya know what?  I’m gonna drop a note to our senators asking them to not cut off those ‘stitches.’ You should too.  Because, by golly, this is the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.” 

Wis. senators: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/email-the-senator
https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact/contact-tammy

        Tim Id sat shyly waiting his turn for a trim.  Soon, Madge waved him over.  Like all good hairdressers, Madge is a good listener.  And even though Tim’s a quiet guy, Madge is usually able to coax a conversation out of him.  Such was the case this time.  “Nobody seems to be paying attention or doing much about the climate emergency we’re in,” Tim began.  “New high temperature records continue to be broken and devastating severe weather events keep multiplying.  It’s costing…” 

        The door swung open.  A burly, rough-looking fellow stepped in and surveyed the layout.  “The name’s Don.  Can a guy get a hair cut here?” he asked curtly. “Sure, have a seat; you’re next,” Madge smiled back. “Now Tim, what were you saying?”
Tim glanced nervously at Don and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. “It’s just that I think we need the government and businesses to step up in addressing this problem.”  Tim glanced cautiously at Don, pretty sure he was eavesdropping.  Then partially covering his mouth, Tim continued, “But everything’s so political these days, it’s kinda scary to say anything,”

        Madge stopped abruptly and stepped over to the magazine rack.  Finding the paper she was looking for, she dropped a copy of The Guardian in Tim’s lap.  Tim read snippets aloud.  “A global survey of 125 countries found that 89% of folks think their governments should do more to fight the climate crisis.  A majority would chip in 1% of their monthly income to support that cause.  Nevertheless, in the U.S. almost 80% of congressional staffers underestimate people’s support for limits on carbon emissions.  There’s a huge disconnect in what people want and what congress members are hearing!

        “In a corroborating study the Yale Climate Poll finds that 75% or more of Americans support: 1. More renewable energy research 2. Generating renewable energy on public lands, and 3. Tax rebates for clean energy vehicles and solar panels,” Tim concluded.
        Suddenly, Don marched over, eyeing Tim critically. “I couldn’t help overhearing… I’m with you Bro!” he roared pumping Tim’s hand. “It’s time we all spoke up,” Don Beesheye announced.  Ima Withhew poked her head from under the hair dryer. “Go get ‘em young man!” she cheered.  Madge Oritty nodded in agreement. “Because guys, remember; this is our only home.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.” 

        “In the outside world, people who are celebrating life events can look forward to receiving presents.  In the Potawatomi way, this expectation is turned upside down.  It is the honored one who gives the gifts, who piles the blanket high to share good fortune.  Wealth among traditional people is measured by having enough to give away.  Hoarding the gift, we become constipated with wealth, bloated with possessions.

        In a culture of gratitude, everyone knows that gifts will follow the circle of reciprocity and flow back to you again.  Both the honor of giving and the humility of receiving are necessary halves of the equation.  We dance in a circle, not in a line.
In Potawatomi, we speak of the land as “emingoyak”: that which has been given to us.  In English, we speak of the land as “natural resources” or “ecosystem services,” as if the lives of other beings were our property, the earth an open pit mine.  We are all bound by a covenant of reciprocity: plant breath for animal breath, winter and summer, predator and prey, grass and fire, night and day, living and dying.  Soil and rocks know they are dancing in a continuous giveaway of making, unmaking, and making again the earth.

        Our elders say that ceremony is the way we can remember to remember.  In the dance of the giveaway, remember that the earth is a gift that we must pass on, just as it came to us.  When we forget, the dances we’ll need will be for mourning.  For the passing of polar bears, the silence of cranes, for the death of rivers and the memory of snow.

         The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken.  It’s our turn now, long overdue. Let us hold a giveaway for Mother Earth, spread our blankets out for her and pile them high with gifts.  Gifts of mind , hands, heart, voice and vision all offered up on behalf of the earth.  Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and dance for the renewal of the world.  In return for the privilege of breath.”

        After all, this is the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.  A belated Happy Earth Week!

        Wes Consin had never been to South America and was having a great time touring the capital city.  One day a friendly chap, Monte Video,* invited him to share his sidewalk café table.  They hit it off right away and had a lively chat. 

        It turns out that Wes’s state and Monte’s country are about the same size.  While Wes’s state has almost twice the population of Monte’s country, they still have a lot in common. Take energy for instance.  Neither has any fossil fuel resources.  No coal - no petroleum.  “Whoa! That used to be a huge, expensive problem for us,” Monte admitted.

       “No kidding,” Wes groaned. “We shell out $14 billion dollars every year to fuel our state.  Wait a minute; did you say you used to have a problem? You don’t anymore?”

        Monte shook his head, smiled and told how his country became 98% fossil fuel free.  Just 17 years ago in 2008, Uruguay faced a problem common to many developing countries. The economy was growing, but they didn’t have enough electrical energy to fuel the growth. Blackouts resulted and energy rationing was implemented while electricity costs continued to rise.  That stubborn dependence on fossil fuels undermined his country’s autonomy.  But today, a mix of hydro, biomass, solar and wind has squelched their reliance on imported fossil fuels.

        “Holy Cow!” Wes exclaimed. “We should do that!  And you know what?  We could. We recently learned that if all ‘solar suitable’ roofs in my state added solar panels, we could generate 2/3s of our energy needs.  That’s not even counting utility scale renewable energy resources.  Not only that, we grow a ton of corn for ethanol.  But solar farms produce100 times more energy per acre than corn ethanol.  At that rate, if we added solar arrays on less than 1/3 of the current land area being used to grow corn for ethanol, we could meet our carbon free goals by 2050.”

        “Go for it!” Monte encouraged. “If a small developing country in Latin American can rid ourselves of fossil fuel dependence, surely a hard-working state in the U.S. can do it too. You’d save billions besides doing your part to slow the damaging effects of climate change.  After all, it’s your state and everyone’s Earth to protect because we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
* Uruguay Capital - Montevideo  

            Midnight, in a dark pantry somewhere in America – “Kate!  Is that you?  It sounds like you’re crying.  What’s going on?” Ray Frydbeans whispered. 

            “I’m sorry; I can’t help it,” Kate Chupp sniffled. “But I’m scared.  Today, the guy who does the cooking, Stu Potts, took me out of the cupboard to use.  But then I watched him looking at some of the tiny numbers printed on my backside.  He frowned and put me away again mumbling something about having to toss me out!  Ray, I can’t help but think about all those tomatoes grown, processed and squeezed into me.  Their whole lives will be for nothing if I get tossed.”

            The next day Stu did some research.  Some of what he found was quite alarming.  The average American throws out more than 400 lbs. of food annually, which translates to 30% –40% of the total U.S. food supply.  Besides the obvious economic losses, water supplies are wasted and greenhouse gasses are generated in landfills. “Wow!  We resourceful Americans can do better than that,” Stu stewed.

            Part of the problem is the confusion about “sell by,” “best by,” and “use by” dates on food products.  He learned:

• A "sell by" date on food packaging indicates when a retailer should remove a product from display, not when it's unsafe to eat.
• Most food is safe to consume past this date if stored properly. 
• “Best if Used By,” "Best Before," and “Use By” essentially all mean the same thing - the peak quality limit of that product.
• The best way to determine if food is still safe to eat is to use your senses (sight, smell, taste) to check for signs of spoilage. 
• Additionally, tons of food never get used just because of aesthetic deformities such as irregular size, discoloration, weight inconsistencies, and blemishes.  What a shame!

           Later that week the pantry door swung wide. Stu reached in the back and hoisted out Kate. “Ah ketchup! Now I can grill up those burgers,” he smiled.

           Kate was thrilled!  All the soil, water, labor and transportation it took for her to become part of  Stu’s picnic fare wouldn’t be wasted.  “It’s only fair,” she mused. “And being careful stewards of Earth’s resources is one way every single person can take responsibility for their only home.  Anyway, where else would we live?  We’re all forever… Earthbound.”  

           High noon  - somewhere in America.  Slash Da’Funding sauntered boldly down the middle of Main Street then stopped outside the General Mercantile Exchange.  “Git out here Ray!  It’s time we settled this once and fer all.”
            Ray Newables stepped out and squared off with Slash.  A hush fell as mothers bustled their children inside; chickens and geese scattered in a swirl of dust.  “I know what you’re trying to do Slash.  Saving money is a worthwhile endeavor.  But do you really think going after me will accomplish that?  Maybe you should reconsider,” Ray reasoned. “Reconsider? Why should I?” Slash snarled.
            It was just the question Ray was hoping for. “Well Slash, for one thing, the global renewable energy market is already valued at over a trillion bucks, and it’s growing at a rate of 8.5% annually.  Do we really want the U.S. to turn its back on taking leadership in this market?  Our own Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is expected to create more than 1.5 million new jobs in the U.S. over the next decade.  Supporting the IRA is a great way to grow the economy.  Want to save money?  Renewable energy sources are now the least expensive way to generate electricity and the fuel is free!  Now that’s how to cut costs!  You know, over 65% of Americans say they want our congress and the president to make developing clean energy a priority.
            “And here’s another money-saver.”  Ray continued. “How about slowing down the growing rate of billion-dollar severe weather events.  Fossil fuel greenhouse gases are a big reason why these are becoming more frequent and more severe.  Why, in 2024 alone the destruction cost the U.S. a cool $182 billion!  Not to mention the suffering imposed on so many of our citizens.”
            “None of that makes me no never mind! ” Slash spat back. “Now Draw!”…BAM!
            Later at the saloon –  Wrapped in a ragged kerchief, Slash’s festering foot rested gingerly on a bar stool. “By golly Ray, danged if I didn’t go and shoot myself in the foot!” Slash admitted sheepishly.  “Maybe I was being a bit hasty.  There’s a lot of good economic sense in what you’re doin’.  And I do want to leave a better world for my grandkids.  After all, where else would they live?  This is their only home; it’s where they’ll be forever… Earthbound.”

        The banner “Carbon – The Building Block of Life” fluttered gently above the stage.  Great Grandmother Carbon (C) took her place at the podium. “Welcome to this year’s convention,” she hailed.  “Look around you at this remarkable planet!  We carbon compounds have been instrumental in helping populate it with abundant life.
 
       “As you know, our compounds take many different forms.  This has caused confusion in some members of the human population.  It’s a troubling case of mistaken identity.  With our reputation as life’s central building block, some humans mistakenly assume more carbon anywhere must be a good thing.  Clearly, that’s not the case,” she continued while eyeing several of the most common carbon compounds including carbon monoxide (CO), chloroform (CHCl3), acetylene (C2H2), and methane (CH4).
 
       “While it’s certainly not your fault dear,” Grannie continued and looked directly at Carbon Dioxide (CO2), “the issue centers around you.”  CO2 blushed as Grannie continued.  “Some humans confuse your overabundance in the atmosphere (50% more than 200 years ago) with the benefits of having more of me (C) in the soil.”

        The on-stage screen lit up with a list of the benefits of Carbon (C) in the soil:

• better soil aggregation, enhancing water infiltration and reducing erosion 
  
• higher organic matter that can store more water
• support for robust root systems, leading to improved plant productivity
• fostering diverse microbial communities

        “An overabundance of CO2 in the atmosphere does enhance some plant growth in certain conditions.  But dearie, I’m afraid any benefits are greatly outweighed by the damage that is already so evident.”  A new slide appeared concerning excessive atmospheric CO2.  

• as a greenhouse gas, trapping excessive heat from the sun
• glacial melting causing sea level rise that will potentially flood coastal areas 
• more frequent and intense extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves. 
• disruption of ecosystems, leading to species extinction and changes in plant and animal distribution. 
• negative impact on food security 
• ocean acidification

         “I’m so sorry,” CO2 sniffled, “but if humans keep burning coal and petroleum products, I can’t help but expand.“

        “We know you’ve meant no harm, dearie,” Grannie smiled.  “Humans just can’t ignore the fact that the fuels they choose to use DO make a difference.  Otherwise, they’re jeopardizing the ways of life they’ve known for generations on the only home they’ll ever know.  After all, this bountiful planet is where they’re all forever… Earthbound.”